Chapter Five: The Last Mission?


Tina: you busy?

Ben: trying to sleep - it's been a stressful day

Ben: why?

Tina sent an attachment

Ben: warn a man Satine!

Tina: there's the reaction I wanted

Tina: love you

Ben: you're not leaving our bedroom when I come home for at least a day

Tina: :)


Obi-Wan shook his head, smiling a bit while his partner typed another message. He had been trying to sleep for a few hours now but…

...Maul.

Maul was alive. Alive, somehow, and probably wanting to kill him.

He swallowed, wondering how safe his loved ones were from such a monster.

The pager pinged again.

Tina: The Council hasn't coerced you into one last mission, have they?

Guilt washed over him. How the hell was he supposed to live with the knowledge that Maul was alive and return home in a few mere days?

He wanted to find the bastard.

"I should have aimed for his head," Obi-Wan muttered while he pushed the blankets away and sat on the edge of the bed. It was still incredibly strange to be in the apartment without her.

Naboo was supposed to be the last mission.

He put his head on his hands, heaving a sigh.

The last mission.

Why had he taken that damn Hardeen mission?

The guilt was still consuming him.

Somehow Anakin is more mentally stable than me.

How the hell was that possible?

Obi-Wan ground the heel of his palm into his forehead, grimacing. It'd only been mere hours since he had found about Maul's existence and...and the urge to kill him was overwhelming.

How hard would it be to forget about this, head back to Mandalore? Settle down, marry Satine, raise a family?

The ache for such a future was overwhelming.

But Maul…

He raised his head when his comlink jingled, frowning when he reached for it.

"Mace? It's what, 4 a.m.?"

Mace sighed. "You need to come to the Temple. We received a rather... disturbing message."


"There will be more innocent blood on your hands, Kenobi, unless you come here. Face me. Come alone and if you do not...this world."

Mace grimaced while the Hologram of Maul cut down the villagers he had lined up. He was glad he hadn't eaten breakfast - this was sickening.

He glanced over at Obi-Wan, who glanced away from the Hologram.

Mace pressed the stop button, wondering why fate seemed to hate Obi-Wan so much. The angry snarl of Maul spun slowly.

There was silence. He glanced at the Holograma Plo Koon and Ki-Adi-Mundi, who were staying quiet.

Obi-Wan heaved a sigh. "I have to go."

"Not alone, you're not," Mace said automatically. "We'll send a task force with you."

"No. You see what he's capable of. He's a broken, unbalanced monster. I've dealt with him before. I can do it again."

For some reason, that description matched Anakin. Shaking his head, Mace murmured, "I disagree. This is clearly a trap."

Yoda came through the doors, shaking his head while he tapped closer to them. "Against my better judgement, agree with Master Kenobi, I do. Finish what he started long ago, Obi-Wan must."

Plo and Ki-Adi bowed and fizzled out.

Obi-Wan gave a nod, turning around. "I am off to Raydonia."

Mace kept his voice soft. He couldn't quite believe - actually, he could believe that Obi-Wan would do something this stupid when happiness was so close. "Master Yoda...if this is indeed Darth Maul, his capture is far too important to Obi-Wan alone."

"Hmm...not alone, will Kenobi be. An unexpected ally, he may have."

Mace blinked in surprise.

"Trust the Force, we must."

"...last time we trusted the Force Obi-Wan was forced to die and lost - " He cut himself off, then shook his head. "This war is ruining our lives."

Yoda gave a small huff, tapping his cane against Mace's shin. "Survived more than one war, the Jedi have. Survive, we always will."


It took at least twenty-two hours to fly to Raydonia.

He ignored every message that came through.

The amount of stress that was filling him…

He barely registered that he pulled out of hyperspace and was flying into the atmosphere.

Smoke was rising from several towns. With a sigh he plugged in the coordinates that Maul's transmission came from.

He landed the ship, walking down the ramp slowly.

It was sad that the smell of charred flesh was familiar to him this far into the war.

The Dark Side felt like it was crawling on his skin.

He wandered around the village, seeing bodies everywhere. He knelt beside a child, swallowing hard while he closed her eyes.

There was a droid hitting itself against the exterior of a home repeatedly. Most of the buildings were still burning and on fire.

"Jedi! I have been waiting for you!"

Obi-Wan forced himself to stand still, watching the demon that ruined his life stand before him. "I'm not sure I've made your acquaintance."

Maul gave a snort. "I am surprised you could have forgotten me so easily after I killed Your Master and you left me for dead on Naboo."

"It is you," Obi-Wan whispered.

"You may have forgotten me, but I will never forget you! You cannot imagine the depths I would go to stay alive, fueled by my singular hatred for you!"

Obi-Wan grabbed his lightsaber, feeling emotions flicker in him he thought he had buried. "That may be so, but I defeated you before, and I can defeat you again."

Maul cackled. "Don't. Be. So. Certain."

Something jumped behind him.

Obi-Wan spun around, quickly blocking an attack from another Dathomir man. He wasn't sure what exactly happened, but he was aware how much he was struggling to fight this monster.

Then nothing.


"Hey Mace!"

Mace grimaced before schooling his face and turning around in the Grand Hall of the Temple. "Skywalker - you're back. How was your scouting mission?"

Anakin rolled his eyes while he caught up to the Master of the Order, clasping the offered hand in greeting for a moment. "There has rarely been a tip so underwhelming."

"Nothing then? There were reports of Seperatist activity." Mace began to walk, the younger Jedi falling into step beside him.

"Not a peep - Ahsoka and I were out and back within twenty-six hours. Even managed to grab a meal during a refuel."

Mace gave a grim smile. "War makes us remember the simple pleasures in life."

"Yeah…" Anakin rubbed his neck before sighing. "Mace - have you seen Obi-Wan? He's not at either apartment and - "

"He didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

Mace stopped, then pulled Anakin towards the nearest window so they could have some privacy. He glanced out at the window, then back to the young man. A sigh escaped him. "... Maul's alive. Obi-Wan's going after - "

"WHAT?"


Obi-Wan woke to being beaten by Maul. He was half-conscious he was shoved into the yellow brother - Savage? - and was held down while Maul slapped him.

"Still as weak as ever."

Savage threw him into some cargo boxes.

Obi-Wan felt something crack in his chest when he fell.

"And they call you master."

Obi-Wan braced himself on a few boxes, feeling blood in his mouth while he grinned. He put a hand on his hip, grimacing. "You know, when I cut you in half, I should have aimed for your neck instead."

He was a little unsure what happened after that. There were some snarky things said on his head, but nothing that he remembered.

Everything was a little fuzzy. Somebody left, engines started up, and he felt the presence of…

No...it can't be…

Maul was holding him close. A lightsaber was buzzing beside his face, singing off a few hairs from his beard.

"I will make sure you stay awake long enough to feel every single death will be beyond excruciating. You will suffer as I have suffered."

"What a surprise." A female voice echoed from above. "My former servant, still an animal. And you have a friend now."

Obi-Wan was released, falling hard to the ground.

"Brother...who is this?" Maul muttered.

"A brother? Looks like he's half the man you are, Savage. How unfortunate. I was looking for a challenge, not some wretched castoffs from the Nightbrothers clan! What a disappointment."

A manical cackle filled the air. Obi-Wan didn't quite have the energy to stand and kept lying on the dirty floor. Listening. Waiting.

"Who is this, brother?" Maul asked.

"A Dathomir witch," Savage murmured. "She betrayed me."

"She knows too much. Destroy her."

Obi-Wan could barely grunt when a steel toe connected to his hip. He fell closer to unconsciousness again, wondering why he tasted blood in his mouth.

He heard a voice, felt a hand gripping his shoulder, but he couldn't quite register what was happening until he was tapped on the cheek.

His eyes fluttered open.

"Ventress?

The former Sith helped him stand. "It looks like I'm here to rescue you."

Obi-Wan brushed himself off out of habit, realizing he was missing his lightsaber. "When did you become the good guy?"

"Don't insult me."

He massaged his jaw, feeling something click inside. Maul and Savage were nowhere to be seen. "What a lovely sight to wake up too."

Ventress snorted. "Don't flatter yourself, Kenobi. You've never been much to look at, especially now."

"The Witch and the Jedi."

Obi-Wan glanced upwards, watching the two men stand above them on a ledge.

"Here for our taking." Maul ignited his lightsaber.

Ventress handed him her spare lightsaber while they went to stand back to back. "I want that back."

"That's fine - red's not my color." He ignited the lightsaber, a little gleeful he was holding such an object that was so...evil. "Ready?"

"Like you even have to ask."

Maul attacked before Obi-Wan could make the first move. He barely noticed the other two battling. It was surreal, fighting him again. Fighting this...this thing. The monster.

Obi-Wan pushed Maul into a pile of crates, neatly sidestepping the other battle that was happening beside him.

Before Maul had destroyed his life, he had been about to leave the Jedi and propose to Satine.

Now the same thing was happening.

Maul stood, launching at him again.

His lightsaber was hanging from Maul's belt.

Obi-Wan slipped past, grasping his lightsaber. The familiar weight was comforting.

"Ventress!" He shouted, tossing her lightsaber to her when she noticed.

Ventress caught it, just barely blocking Savage's attack.

Obi-Wan didn't have time to worry about the outcome of their fight was - he was knocked into more crates. He glanced upwards, then scrambled up them and onto the ledge above him.

Maul followed, their lightsabers clashing together.

He didn't know how Maul was still so strong after so many years.

Their lightsabers screeched together.

Maul snarled, his face glowing with the light of their lightsabers. "Your master, Qui-Gon Jinn, I gutted him while you stood helpless and watched. How did that make you feel Obi-Wan?"

The animalistic yell that left him was unrecognizable. Obi-Wan shoved Maul, fighting more wrecklessly. He wished in the moment Maul kicked him away he was not a Master of Soresu but of Vaapad.

Mace always said it was easier to use Vaapad against an opponent and still be angry. It's why the man had created the form.

Maul cackled, twirling his lightsaber around while he advanced. The red glow cast an eerie shadow on his black markings.

"Your rage has unbalanced you. That is not the Jedi way, is it?"

Obi-Wan managed to stand, not entirely surprised when Maul kicked him off the ledge and onto the floor again. He stood, avoiding Savage while standing back to back with Ventress. "We're outmatched."

"You want to run?"

"I'm learned from watching you."

"Funny. The cockpit?"

Maul launched forward.

Obi-Wan twisted away, running towards the door that connected the cockpit to the rest of the ship. He slammed the door open. "Come on! Come ON!"

Ventress flipped over the brothers, barely making it through before the doors closed.

Obi-Wan bolted to the cockpit, fiddling with the buttons and praying that this was the type of cargo ship that could seperate the cargo hold from the pit.

He heard the hiss of lightsabers melting metal.

"Hurry Kenobi!" Ventress shouted.

"I'm working on it!"

"Come on, HURRY! Now would be a good time!"

The cockpit jolted while he guessed and slammed a button. The hiss of the lightsabers faded away. When he glanced back the cargo bay was unattached, floating in the void of space.

He sighed, slumping back in his seat.

"That was cutting it a little to close," Ventress muttered while she walked into the cockpit and sat in the co-pilot's seat.

"You do know it's not over."

"I know."

"They'll be after us both now."

"At least you have one less adversary."

Obi-Wan set a course for the nearest refuel station - it was about twelve hours away - and then raised an eyebrow at her. "So you're not a Sith anymore? Interesting."

Ventress snorted, rubbing a hand over her bald head before propping her feet on the dash. "I'm not on your side."

"From what I've heard, you've turned in several Seperatist fugitives to Republic authorities. Even some Death Watch members."

She ground her teeth together, then stood and disappeared for a moment. When she came back she was holding the medkit. "Here. I don't think your friend will be very happy if you come back bleeding and with more broken bones."

"You care about my relationship?" Obi-Wan muttered, opening the kit and wincing at how bruised and tender just his hands were. "How sweet."

"Quinlan's annoying as it is - I don't need him complaining how his best friend needs to be stitched together again."

Obi-Wan stilled, holding the bacta patches in his hand. Recovering, he stood stiffly and made his way towards the back, grimacing while he made to peel off his layers to apply the patches. "Quinlan? I was referring to the Duchess Kryze."

"Mind your business Kenobi."


"Kenobi, I don't know what is worse - being screamed at by your gaggle of friends, Skywalker, Adi Gallia, or your girlfriend."

Obi-Wan grimaced while he held the comlink. He could see Ventress suppressing a laugh in the pilots seat.

"Why didn't you tell anyone where you were? Furthermore - why did I have to discover you haven't spoken to the Duchess in over forty-eight hours and I'm paraphrasing when I say that 'Obi-Wan better be home the end of the week or the Mando Jettise Wars will start again.'"

"Satine made a threat that involved violence? I'm touched."

"I censored her words." Mace folded his arms across his chest and shook his head. "Your lineage is why I'm bald."

Obi-Wan cracked a smile, though it quickly faded. He had barely made contact before the Master of the Order had started yelling

As if sensing something serious was about to be discussed, Mace leaned the Holoprojector. "How was your mission?"

"...I encountered Maul. He's alive and has a brother trained in the Dark Arts."

"That makes this war far more complicated. I suppose - "

"Maul is my responsibility," Obi-Wan interpreted. He barely noticed the ship entering the atmosphere of the fueling station. "I will not drag more innocent lives into this mess. This is personal."

Mace gave a small, sad smile. "Maul killed one of ours years ago - it stopped being personal the moment he murdered Qui-Gon Jinn. I expect you back on Coruscant soon to discuss this."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to argue, then closed it and nodded while the Hologram fizzled out. He glanced out the windshield, seeing that they had landed already.

Ventress gave a pitying look, standing and clapping his shoulder. "Looks like you won't be leaving the Jedi anytime soon."

"I highly doubt that."

"Mmm hmm."


Author's note: hellooooo

If somebody understands the Ventress / Quinlan comment I will be so happy :D

And yes, this format is similar to an early Secrets chapter. I'll be enjoying these next few weeks - ya know, treading the line between canon and my canon :) Teasing you guys, making you wonder if Satine will live or die...if Obi-Wan will continue to be...himself.

ii Digestive Reader ii