Chapter 11: The Nightbrothers

The next day, Obi-Wan was sitting in the pilot seat of a Republic cruiser, Luminara Unduli sitting in the seat next to him, relaxed and smiling as she observed how easily flying came to the young Kenobi. "You could have been a pilot," she said softly, and Obi-Wan looked to her.

"Sorry, what?"

"If you weren't a Jedi, I mean. You are quite skilled."

Obi-Wan smiled at his companion. "I think that without the Force, I'd be average at best."

Luminara laughed. "When did you become so modest, Obi-Wan? Qui-Gon's Padawan was always so headstrong and proud."

"Mm, I'm not Qui-Gon's Padawan anymore."

"No, you're not." She looked at him carefully, noticing the relaxed ease he had about him, the braid cut from his hair made him seem a bit older, and his cheeks had the faint traces of stubble upon them. The boy had transformed into a man since she saw him last. "I spoke to Shaak Ti last night. She briefed me on the mission and had a fair bit to say about you."

"It seems everyone has a great deal to say about me these days."

Luminara smiled excitedly. "Sithkiller. They whisper it behind your back, they are in awe of you. All of them."

"And you?" His blue eyes looked at her expectantly, and she couldn't help but smile. Part of him was still the Padawan she knew, so eager for approval.

"I am more impressed with what Shaak Ti was telling me about your evolving lightsaber skills. I hear you have begun to focus on Soresu. I approve."

Obi-Wan smiled softly and looked away from the Master. "Well...I'm not nearly as good as you."

"No, but you will be. I'm glad that despite your training by a highly aggressive Master, and your own vicious attack against the Sith, you are adopting a more defensive posture. It speaks well of the Jedi way if the Sithkiller seeks to defend before attack."

"It may make us more in tune for the mission, if it comes down to combat. I was talking to Quinlan about you before we left, he said you're the easiest Jedi he's every worked with to fall into sync with."

The Master looked at him curiously, smiling mischievously. "Since when do you willingly talk to Quinlan Vos?"

He scoffed. "Quinlan's alright. Never tell him I said so."

"Your secret is safe with me." She leaned back, relaxing once again. "When we hit the hyperspace route, you and I should get some practice in. I can teach you a bit of what I know."

Kenobi smiled at her appreciatively. Luminara was a paragon of the Jedi Order. She wasn't on the Council, but Obi-Wan suspected that she would be if a space opened up. She was everything that a Jedi should be; kind, honest, and in complete control of her emotions, and he couldn't help but be envious of that. Her control was unshakable, something that maybe he could have once aspired to, but now he knew that he'd be unable. What was it Master Yoda had always said? Once you start down a dark path, it will forever dominate your destiny. And he had, hadn't he? He embraced the darkness, willingly let it in, and...he couldn't get enough. He had wanted to know more from the moment he knew what he had done. Maybe the Jedi were right after all.

"How do you do it?" he asked softly, and he almost killed himself for not being able to hold his tongue.

"Do what?"

"You're..." He sighed. He couldn't get out of this one. "I'm pretty good at following the Code, but that first one..."

Luminara laughed. "That is the difficult one, yes. There is no emotion, there is peace." She sighed. "We all struggle with that at some point."

"Even you?"

"I used to, yes." She smiled. "There were times when I was a Padawan when I was certain I would fail my trials. I was very attached to a fellow Padawan who was killed when her and her Master were attacked by bounty hunters. My grief was difficult to overcome, but in the end, I had to learn to let go."

Obi-Wan looked at her, his blue eyes understanding. "I'm sorry, Luminara."

She shook her head. "I learned and grew from the experience, but I was certain I was breaking the Code. I was so lost. In time, I learned that it is our time when the Force wills it. Emotion and attachment isn't wrong, but when the time comes, you must be ready to let go."

"...prepare for the jump." He flicked a few switches, and pulled one of his control sticks, and the ship hummed, the pinpoint stars becoming white streaks as the black of space faded away into the white and blues of the hyperspace route. Could emotion exist within the Jedi Code? Was it possible to feel anger and sadness and love so long as the emotions didn't rule you, so long as you could let go of anger and loss? Was it possible that the Dark and the Light could coexist?

"And you?" Obi-Wan snapped out of his revere, looked to the Master regarding him kindly. "Have you broken the Code?"

"...I have." More than once. "I was on the Mandalore mission with Qui-Gon when it happened. I was working closely with him to protect the Duchess Satine. He left often to scout ahead, and I was left behind with her. He could be gone for days at a time, and we...got very close."

"Did you love her?"

"I do." He flushed. "I did, I...I might still. I put those emotions away when I knew I must leave her, but..." He sighed, leaning back in the pilot's chair. "I would have left the Order for her, if she just asked."

"What if she asked you now?"

The question was loaded, he knew, but he couldn't stop the rush of emotions, the flash of memories, their first kiss under a tree in the rain, the first time she laid herself out before him and he took her, the first time for both of them. His emotional upheaval was not unnoticed by Luminara, and the Master put her hand over his.

"...it's too late for us," he said softly, clutching her hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. "I am dedicated to the Order now. Our paths are different."

The Master nodded. "You are a fine Jedi, Obi-Wan."

"I do try to be..."

She stood, pulling him to his feet. "Are you still up for sparring?"

He smiled at that. "I am always up for that, my dear."


The Dathomir system revolved around a giant red sun, casting crimson light over the entire planet that made it seem like it was soaked in blood. The Council was not wrong about the danger. When the two Jedi stepped out of the ship, they were slammed by the cold and oppressive weight of the Dark Side. It only took Kenobi a moment to adjust, breathing deeply as he reached out to the Force and let the Dark Side in, his entire being settling into a dark balance as the chill gripped him. Luminara did not settle so easily, and the force of it sent her to her knees, clutching her chest and trying to catch her breath. She reminded Kenobi of himself when the Sith Lord appeared on Naboo.

He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up to her feet. "Come on, Luminara, focus. Defenses up, keep it at bay."

"How are you doing this so easily?"

"I've done this before," he said softly, smiling. "I was the same way when I faced the Sith. It's easier the second time."

She nodded, breathing deeply and composing herself, leaning on Kenobi for support until her legs could hold her. "So, shall we get going?"

"You alright?"

"Yes, you were right. Defenses up, focus. Got it."

He nodded. "We are headed North, I saw the village when we were landing, which means they saw us come in. We need to be cautious."

"I agree." Luminara stood behind the younger Jedi. "After you, Kenobi."

He grinned devilishly, and with long strides, took off in the direction of the village, Luminara close behind him. The sky, like the ground, was a deep red stained by the system's sun, and to the Force sensitive, the blue and dark twisted vegetation was soaked in the Dark Side. Kenobi felt himself thriving in it. He felt strong, stronger than he ever had, like he could do anything, like he could make anyone do anything. It was intoxicating. The careful and reserved way of the Jedi had no place here; on Dathomir, only the strong thrived, and Obi-Wan Kenobi was strong.

They heard the Nightbrothers before they saw their village, a deep, guttural chanting and the sounds of heavy weapons clashing against each other and bodies being thrown to the ground carrying through the thick air. Obi-Wan and Luminara exchanged a quick glance before they carried on, side by side, up to the village. As they got closer, the noise stopped, and when they came to the entrance, the village looked abandoned. Obi-Wan's sharp blue eyes moved lazily over the huts and watchtowers.

"Be on guard, Kenobi," Luminara said softly, and he nodded.

"Let's not be hasty, I want to avoid fighting if we can." The Master smiled gently at him.

"I was just about to say the same thing."

They were both grinning like idiots at each other when the Nightbrothers appeared, quickly vaulting over walls from every side, brandishing weapons and surrounding the two Jedi. All of them were tall, thin, and gaunt, the harshness of their world reflected on their lithe bodies. Their tattooed bodies ranged in color from bright yellow to muted red, their heads crowned with vicious horns. Despite the obvious danger, Kenobi couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed; none of the creatures before him were anything like Maul, none of them the vibrant red, none of them the piercing yellow eyes. Could he have come from a different village?

His pulse didn't even raise; he was bored. There was no danger for Obi-Wan here. He grinned at Luminara, turned so they stood back to back. "I don't think we'll have much trouble here."

"You think? Because they don't seem like they're going to be very friendly..."

One of the Zabrak's growled and lunged at the pair, Luminara's hand darting to her lightsaber, and Obi-Wan held his hand out before him, reaching through the Force to hold the assailant in mid-air. The other Nightbrothers took a step back. "Now, now," Kenobi drawled, effortlessly holding the young, struggling Zabrak off the ground. "Let's not be hasty, boys. We aren't here to fight."

The Nightbrothers growled and began to advance. "They aren't listening, Obi-Wan."

"Not yet." He growled and tossed the Zabrak that he held to the side, and he reached out and grabbed another, Luminara putting out her hands and pushing back with the Force, sending a good number flying back, but it wasn't enough. The Nightbrothers were strong, and they were resilient, and they just got up and kept coming. Obi-Wan looked around the group of them, every one of them holding maces or clubs or bladed weapons or spears, and it seemed like fighting would be the only option. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something move up on one of the watch towers, and the Jedi knew what he needed to do.

Drawing his lightsaber, the deep thrum of energy sounding as he activated it, Kenobi flipped up onto the watch tower and grabbed the stray Nightbrother, holding the long blade at his throat. "Back off," he commanded, and the rest of the tribe stopped, backed away from Luminara slowly. "We aren't here to fight you, so drop your weapons."

None of the Zabrak's moved, until his hostage nodded and the entire tribe did as the Jedi commanded. His instincts were correct; this man led the group. Kenobi deactivated the saber and clipped it back on his belt and leapt down to stand by Luminara. The leader climbed down as well, rubbing his neck as he stood before the Jedi.

"I am Viscus," the orange skinned Zabrak growled. "What are you doing here." It was less of a question than a demand, and Obi-Wan bristled. He could have killed him, he had no right to make demands. His eyes narrowed, but Luminara stepped between them.

"I am Luminara Unduli, and this is Obi-Wan Kenobi. We are Jedi Knights, and we have been sent here on a mission from the Jedi High Council."

"What do I care about your Council?" Viscus snarled. "There is no place for you Jedi here."

"Maybe not, but there is a place for us," Obi-Wan growled back. "We're looking for a man named Maul."

That got the Zabrak's attention; not just Viscus, but the entire tribe, all of them whispering in hushed growls and snarls that could have been anything from disgust to awe, it was hard to tell. "Maul isn't here. Maul hasn't been here for a long, long time."

"But he was here?" Luminara asked quickly, and the Nightbrother nodded.

"Yes, he was one of us. He was not one of us. He was many things, but above all else, he was a Nightbrother."

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Kriffing hell, stop speaking in riddles. Was Maul here?"

Viscus frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Do you know how things are here on Dathomir?"

He shrugged. "More or less. I know you boys live under the thumb of powerful Force users called Nightsisters."

"They are not Force users, they are magic."

"...right. Magic," he said mockingly, and Luminara hit his shoulder, glaring at him.

"My fellow Jedi is impulsive, I apologize," she said softly, and Obi-Wan grinned. Strangely, so did Viscus.

"You live under the thumb of a woman as well, it seems."

"Oh, I do," Kenobi purred, leaning in toward his companion, and the Mirialan Master covered his face with her hand.

"Please, continue," Luminara said softly, and the Zabrak nodded.

"The Nightsisters come and take the strongest males away, and we never see them again. They return later to drop off young males after they are born. All but one."

Obi-Wan looked up. "Maul."

"Maul, yes. The Nightsisters kept Maul, so strong in the Force was he. We saw him occasionally, but it was very rare. And then we didn't see him at all."

Obi-Wan didn't need to hear the rest of the story to know what happened. He was taken by the Sith Lord, made into the Sith Apprentice, and died on Naboo. One thing was clear: the Nightbrothers didn't know anything. This trip was beginning to feel like a waste.

Luminara nodded. "Thank you. You have been helpful."

Viscus nodded. "I don't know what you're searching for, Jedi, but you won't find help here if you're after Maul."

"We aren't after him," Luminara promised. "But we are after one that is responsible for putting him on the path that lead to his destruction."

The Zabrak's green eyes widened. "...what happened? Is Maul dead?"

"I'm afraid so," Kenobi drawled slowly. He watched Viscus carefully as the tribe leader bit his lip, eyes darting back and forth.

"...I don't have the information you need," Viscus said swiftly, "but Maul has a brother."

Kenobi's blue eyes snapped to the horned man and narrowed dangerously. His anger instantly hit a peak, and the Dark Side closed around him. If Maul had a brother, that creature would also be dangerous, could also be a Sith. There was only one option: he needed to die, Kenobi had to kill him. "Where."

"Come, I'll show you to him."

Luminara followed the tribe leader, but Obi-Wan stayed rooted to the spot, closing his eyes and breathing deep. This place was dangerous for him, he could feel it. The power of the Dark Side was too strong, and the Jedi was not prepared for the overwhelming sensation of power that ran through him like a riptide. It made his heart race, his hands tremble in excitement, a blazing, burning sensation behind his eyes as his rage peaked and his focus narrowed into something murderous.

There is no emotion, there is peace...

But there was emotion, wasn't there? So much of it, and Kenobi felt it so keenly. He shut his eyes tighter, willing the burning to cease, remembering what he and Luminara had discussed. Emotion was fine, so long as it could be let go. He could let it go, he could...

He could feel the darkness ease up slightly, and Kenobi grabbed that feeling and held it tightly, slowly easing back into control. The darkness was still there, but now he felt that he was master of it, now-

His blue eyes shot open, stormy from the rush of emotions he just felt, and cold gripped him. Something's here. The red sky seemed darker, everything seemed hazy, and it took the Jedi a moment to realize that a green fog was rolling in. The Nightbrothers went running, and panic gripped him. "Luminara!" he shouted, running after the Jedi Master, and he saw her lightsaber before he saw her. He drew his own weapon, activated it, and stood beside her.

"I felt something," she said quietly. "Something here is strong in the Dark Side."

"I felt it too."

"I can't sense where it's coming from." The Mirialan looked around cautiously, eyes squinting through the fog. "Our guide has left us," she said softly. "I suppose there are only a few things that could repel the Nightbrothers."

"Are you thinking the Nightsisters might be one of those things?"

She smiled. "I am thinking exactly that."

"You know, we think so alike, you and I. Maybe I could spend a few more nights in your room."

She smirked. "Certainly. After I beat you senseless, I will be obligated to give you medical attention."

"You are so sweet." He arched his lightsaber in the air and it deflected a projectile that was shot at them from the mist. He heard the whistling of another from the other direction and he struck that one out of the air as well. After that, it was like deadly rain. Purple energy streaked through the air toward the Jedi, and they had to move at blinding speeds to avoid or deflect them. It became clear very quickly that they couldn't win this.

"Luminara, we need to split up, there's too much focused attention on the two of us, and if we stay here, we're going to die."

"I agree. Who's going first?"

"I'll take the fight to them, you stay alive." Kenobi drew up his lightsaber and jumped into the mist, closing his eyes and trusting the Force to guide him. He felt them. Dozens of them. He arched the blue blade forward and it connected, a shrill scream piercing the air. He opened his eyes and saw it, a woman with gray skin and red, cloth armor, one of her arms severed at the shoulder. He quickly lunged forward, driving the blade through the screaming woman's chest, and she fell silent. At her feet was a...bow? But it was unstrung, and the woman had no arrows on her body. Another purple bolt of energy zipped past him, and his eyes widened in understanding. It was an energy bow, shooting bolts of energy instead of arrows. But...that wasn't possible.

They are not Force users, they are magic. That was what Viscus had said, and Kenobi was starting to believe it. Just what kind of Force abilities did these witches have? His eyes narrowed. There was no time to think about this, he had a job to do. Closing his eyes and reaching again into the Force, he ran back into the fog to combat the Nightsisters. Without his eyes to fool him, he found the Nightsisters quickly, his speed, power and ruthlessness enhanced greatly by the Dark Side.

His lightsaber cut through several of the witches, swiftly moving on to the next when one fell. It did not take long for the whistling of the energy arrows to cease, and Obi-Wan opened his eyes, to fog receding to reveal the Nightbrother village littered with the bodies of the women he killed. Deactivating his saber, he clipped it back on his belt, breathing deep and running a hand through his hair. He could see the Nightbrothers peeking out from behind walls and huts, their eyes glowing in the low light.

"What a mess," Kenobi mumbled as he looked about the village. He didn't feel regret for their deaths, but he was disappointed that it came to violence. Somehow, though, he always knew it would come to this. "Luminara! They're gone."

There was silence, just the sound of the Nightbrothers coming out from hiding and examining the bodies of the witches as if they couldn't believe they were dead. "...Luminara?" Kenobi tried again, but there was no response. Closing his eyes, he reached out to her with the Force and couldn't feel her presence at all. Eyes shooting open, he went tearing through the village, the Force granting him unnatural speed as he searched for the Master. "Luminara!" Still nothing. For a moment, he felt her presence, skidded to a stop and saw nothing. He reached out with his hand, pulling at the feel of her through the Force and Luminara's lightsaber flew into his hand. Then there was nothing.

No...

His grip on the saber was crushing, his entire form shaking as he suppressed the feelings of desperation and panic, but the rage could not be contained. It blazed within him, despite the chill, and the cold flames consumed him.

"What do we do?" one of the Nightbrothers asked softly, and a dismissed grunt was his answer.

Luminara can't die, not for this, not for me. Not on my mission...

She had to be fine. She had to be. His breath hitched as he trembled. Nothing else but Luminara mattered. Nothing. Not the mission, not his own safety, just her, only her.

"I told you, the Jedi have no business here, the Nightsisters want them dead. We should kill this one too."

The Nightbrothers slowly advanced, but Obi-Wan didn't move, hardly noticed that the men behind him started moving toward him, slow and cautious in the wake of the fallen Nightsisters. The Jedi calmed as he felt the darkness rush through him, power pulsating within him and the cold saturating his mind. This wasn't like before when he fought Maul, this wasn't the blind, focused fury. This was cold, powerful, intoxicating, and Obi-Wan gasped softly as his entire body, the entire Force was flooded with the Dark Side. This is what he wanted. This is what he needed. Luminara was fine. He would make certain of it.

Kenobi spun around, his hand stretched out and grabbed the closest Nightbrother through the Force around the neck and gripped hard, golden flames burning in his eyes. "Where is she."

The Zabrak clutched at his throat, clawing at the invisible hands that choked him. He couldn't speak. He couldn't breathe. Two other Nightbrothers rushed the Jedi, trying to save their brother, but Kenobi clipped Luminara's lightsaber next to his own and reached out with his other hand, eyes narrowed dangerously. "Stop," he commanded, and the Zabraks froze in their place, those blazing eyes turned on them, and the warriors looked frightened. With the power of the Force behind him, Kenobi commanded the men to kneel, and they couldn't help but obey. The man in his grasp had stopped struggling.

"Jedi, please!" Obi-Wan's eyes shot to the cowering form of Viscus, his hands raised in surrender, head low and pleading. "Please, let him go."

Kenobi dropped the man, and reached his hand out to the village leader, the horned man gasping, eyes wide, as he felt the constriction around his neck. Obi-Wan smiled. "Where are the Nightsisters." It wasn't a question, it was a command.

"Let us go, please." The grip tightened.

"Where are they."

He struggled for just a moment before his eyes went blank, the will sapped out of his being. "They have a temple in the ravine in the forest."

"You will take me to them."

"I will take you to them."

Kenobi released him, and Viscus fell to the ground, gasping and coughing. The Nightbrothers parted as he walked toward them. "I should warn you. If anything, anything, has happened to my friend, I will pay it back tenfold on you."

One of the Zabrak's stood, bravely growled, "The Nightsisters-"

"The Nightsisters will be dead if it comes to that." Obi-Wan smiled as he turned to leave the village, Viscus in tow. "Pray it doesn't come to that, boys."

The Nightbrothers watched the Knight leave with their leader, and they understood why the Jedi were so feared.