Chapter 8: Into the River

This Dark Jedi was vicious Anakin noted, he wielded a longer than normal lightsaber with a single crimson blade. A horrible thought had crossed Anakin's mind, red lightsaber, such dark presence in the Force, darker than anything Anakin had yet come across; he had been wondering if this Zabrak was a Sith Lord. But no, Sith has been extinct for a millennia, someone had spoken about it to him before, Qui-Gon perhaps? Maybe he had heard it on a trip to the Council… or before a test…. He couldn't remember, all he knew was that the Sith had been extinct for a millennia, therefore it was impossible that this skilled Dark Force user was a Sith. Anakin did not know how mistaken he was, or how this was only the first time that the Sith would be a danger not only to him, but to those around him.

Both the Jedi and the Dark Force wielding Zabrak dueling intensely, Anakin was skilled in the aggressive art of Djem So, he suspected this Dark Jedi (at least that's what he thought to call the man) was fluent with it as well, but he could almost see Mace Windu's fighting style in this Zabrak, Vaapad…. The way this Dark Jedi fought was beyond anything Anakin had ever seen.

Both combatants moved with inhuman skill as they spun, twirled, and struck at one another, flashes of cerulean and crimson meeting in the air, casting explosions of light to appear in the dark Nubian forest. The Zabrak struck hard at Anakin's head, the young Jedi parried, spun, and attempted to get the edge on his opponent by feigning a swipe at his head, but then aggressively hacking at his booted feet. Obviously the Zabrak was too skilled to fall for this tactic; he twirled his lightsaber, blocked easily, and leapt into the air foot extended to pound into Anakin's face. The Jedi Padawan barely dodged the kick, the Dark Jedi flew past him, landing and flipping into the air skillfully, perhaps to just to demonstrate his skill with aerial acrobatics, maybe he used Ataru to some degree?

Anakin spun fiercely as the Zabrak came sprinting at him, blade held high over his head for a downward slash. He was barely able to make out the Dark Jedi's outline, if it hadn't been for the crimson and cerulean lights cast in the darkness he probably would have been killed…. Anakin raised his own weapon and parried the Dark Jedi's brute strike, he pulled away and they both went at it again. Anakin noted that this was the most aggressive opponent he'd ever faced. Padmé fought with a kind of precise grace, Qui-Gon preferred aerial acrobatics, and Obi-Wan was a bit of a defensive fighter. He was not used to this style, nor was he expecting the Zabrak to be able to mirror each of his moves, just to throw him off guard (which didn't work, nevertheless it was a bit odd). This was the most difficult fight of his life… and it was also for his life….

XxX

Padmé could sense the intense battle in the woods she had left behind. She was quickly herding the group of security officers, handmaidens, and the queen up the steep mountain side. After several minutes of half running and tripping over rocks Padmé spotted a cave she ushered them all inside, knowing that every moment she took was a moment in which Anakin could die… the thought terrified her. She had to help him, the Dark Jedi he was dueling was intensely powerful.

A flash of cerulean, the sound of a blast shot and a droid in the distance fell, killed by its own shot, deflected by her. More were running up the mountain side, attempting to duck behind boulders for cover. This is exactly what she didn't need; these droids were hampering her progress at getting to Anakin. Plus they might have comlinks… they could report the queen's position… that was just what she needed. With these thoughts she charged toward them, attacking with vigor. They were cut down within a matter of moments; she could only hope that none had contacted reinforcements and reported their position before attacking, she was reasonably sure they did not. She had to help Anakin. For some reason Queen Jimila's safety did not seem as important… there was only Anakin.

XxX

Anakin got the upper hand, he struck hard to the Zabrak's left side, however the Dark Jedi dodged back and Anakin's saber sliced straight through a tree. Using the Force the Jedi gave it a slight push, and it fell straight for the Dark Jedi who was forced to leap back once more in order to avoid getting crushed. This gave Anakin the edge he needed. He hopped onto the tree trunk and propelled himself toward his enemy, foot extended; it made contact with the Zabrak's red and black tattooed face, sending the Dark Force used into an uncontrolled back flip.

Maul found himself hit the ground so hard he nearly vomited as the air was knocked away from his lungs, before he could stop himself he was sliding down a steep hill he had not noticed, he was headed straight for a fast flowing river that he only now realized he could hear rushing. Its source stemmed on the mountain top, and he expected it led to Theed, that was not important now though. The Jedi Padawan had gained the upper hand on him, and he was not about to let him win this little duel, what would his master do to him if the Jedi did not go for a kill? It was then the Sith Lord noticed he was sliding straight toward a tree. He angled both booted feet straight forward to stop himself and used the Force to leap into the air.

His lightsaber was no longer with him; the Jedi was headed his way now! Frantically Maul reached out with the Force, he felt the long cylindrical hilt hit his gloved hand, one crimson blade extended from it, Maul was not seriously considering using both sides, but he thought it best to keep the fact he wielded a double bladed lightsaber as a nasty little surprise.

Anakin was on top of the Zabrak again. The battle had turned to a slop, and Anakin had the high ground… to technically he was merely a foot higher than normal because of where he was standing… that wasn't so useful, but it could not hurt…. The Jedi took a swipe at the Zabrak's hooded, spiky head. Maul ducked as the cerulean blade flew over his hood, cutting through the tree behind him which tipped over menacingly and landed with a deafening crash. There it stopped, unable to roll down the hill because of other trees still standing that prevented it form doing so.

Staying in his crouch Maul extended his hand, what a perfect opportunity. Anakin felt a hard jerk and was suddenly flying forward, over the Sith and toward the bottom of the hill. He landed horribly, the air was forced from his lungs, he couldn't breathe and he was now tumbling down the remaining length of the hill at a great rate of speed, finally he cleared it but was unable to stop himself from continuing to roll toward the rushing river.

He tumbled straight in to the icy water completely submerged, he had to surface! Making sure he had a firm grim on his lightsaber he kicked up as hard as he possibly could, upon reaching the surface and the chilly night air he latched onto the river bank with one hand, it was so numbingly cold, he was shivering all over, his clothes were soaked through, his short hair was matted backward down his scalp, ceremonial padawan braid stuck to his shoulder by the water. He spotted the Dark Jedi, lightsaber held loosely at his side, approaching him slowly, perhaps gloated over his victory. But he had not won yet. Anakin still had a weapon.

It took all the strength he could muster, but seconds later he had landed hard behind his enemy and swung around, fully expecting his cerulean blade to slice right through the red and black neck of the Zabrak…. However Maul was just as fast as him, the Dark Jedi easily blocked and returned with a slash of his own which Anakin parried easily. Their pointless little exchange of slashing, spinning, striking, blocking, and cutting began again, neither gained the upper hand. Both were so determined to… Anakin began to think that it might be impossible as both he and the Zabrak were so resolute in killing one another. Qui-Gon always said there was no such thing, and Obi-Wan was even more of a stronger believer then he but Anakin was sure that the only way he or the Dark Jedi would gain the upper hand was by luck.

Luck graced Anakin first.

The Jedi Padawan pushed the Zabrak's crimson blade away as it stabbed forward, this left the Dark Jedi as open as an archway unable to be sealed with a blast door. It was so easy, just to snap his leg forward and kick his foe right in the chest…. The Dark Jedi flew into an involuntary back flip and landed head first into the numbingly cold, fast flowing river. Anakin watched for a fleeting moment as the Zabrak surfaced and attempted to fight the currant… it was far too strong. Even though the obviously muscular and strong Dark Jedi swarm vigorously against the rushing water it wasn't enough. He was swept further and further out of sight with every moment.

Anakin remarked that he was only able to pull himself to shore because he was so close to the river bank. He wasted no time watching as the Zabrak was dragged away, he took off into the wood reaching out with the Force to find Padmé. He could not sense her, though he could see clearly where the queen and her group were… but where was Padmé? She could not have been killed! There was nothing in this forest to kill her, battle droids were really no match and the Dark Jedi had been dueling him the entire time. Fear gripped Anakin as he tore through the dense underbrush, half tripping at times in the darkness.

He had to find out where Padmé was, but how? The Force provided no answers… was she cloaking herself… nothing… was she near him… quiet… was she… dead… no answer, no reply, the Force told him nothing. It happened to fast he thought he might lose his life, a strong Force presence appeared directly behind him, he activated his lightsaber and spun, fully expecting the cross blades with a soaked, tattooed Zabrak, instead his cerulean blade slammed into another of the same color, and he found himself facing Padmé.

He was barely conscious of what he did next as he wrapped his cold, soaking wet arms around her. He immediately let go, berating himself after an awkward pause followed, as much as he would like to tell himself he did it because he was just happy to see her there and that it was purely an unintentional spur of the moment fluke that in no way indicated he had some sort of feelings for Padmé… he couldn't.

"What happened?" Padmé asked after a moment.

"Uh…" Anakin mumbled, desperately trying to shake thoughts that a Jedi should not have out of his soaking and cold head. "Wait, what happened to you? I couldn't sense your Force signature!"

At this Padmé couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"I covered it up, Anakin." she said in exasperation. "I didn't want that thing to sense me that way I could surprise it!"

"I thought something terrible happened to you!"

"Anakin, use your brain will you?" Padmé said irritably. "Now what happened?"

"It was a Zabrak, he was skilled in the Jedi Arts, but I think he must have been a Dark Jedi." Anakin replied.

"Did you kill him?"

"No, I just kicked him in the river and he was dragged away by the currant, we need to move and get the queen out of here. The Dark Jedi will be coming back."

"Let's move."

XxX

It was amazing how people moved when they feared for their lives, and how efficiently the group of security officers, handmaidens, Jedi, and a queen cleared out of the cave they had temporarily taken refuge in to start a long exhaustive hike up the lush, dark mountain side. When Anakin and Padmé had returned Anakin had relayed his story to the group, and it has been unanimously decided that they would stay in the cave for the night, but instead put as much distance as they could between themselves and the river that had carried the Dark Jedi off.

Everyone was on edge as they treaded as quickly as they could up the mountain, tearing through dense wood and scaling tall cliffs and steep rocky hill sides. They kept on the lookout for food, having eaten very little in about two days, Anakin and Padmé cloaked their presences as best they could, constantly wary of their enemy who they could not sense. The Zabrak was obviously hiding his presence as well, hunting them like a predator in the dark. Both Jedi did as best they could to mask the presences of the group they were protecting, but eventually the effort would be futile, one way or another the Dark Jedi would find them. It would have to end there, one way or another. Either the Zabrak would succeed with his task, kill Anakin, Padmé, and the queen, or he would die. What mattered most was how he approached them, if he attempted to catch them off guard someone would most certainly die, whether it be a handmaiden, a security guard, or Force forbid the queen, someone would die. Sadly it looked as though the Dark Jedi had decided on that method, Anakin and Padmé were constantly on the lookout for when he would strike.

Hopefully you're satisfied with the nice amount of action here, and obviously Anakin and Padmé are starting to develop feelings for each other, that brings us one step closer to Luke's fall to the Dark Side…. Anyway I'm writing this fic along with another one in the Harry Potter category, so don't expect updates to come quickly… maybe once a week, or if we're lucky, twice. Anyway don't forget to review.