Chapter 5
The last few days on the ship in Hyperspace has passed in a blur of preparations. Maul have been persistent in sparring with the Jedi and the Jedi agreed, only to show that they are way out of his league. In Maul's opinion, Jinn is getting too old to be using the Ataru form, Soresu would help him much better for surviving and not weakening himself through mobility. He was only been a 'little' indignant when he had said that to him, but Maul is amused to see both he and his Padawan has begin training in it, and while they cannot win against someone like Maul as of yet, they are effective together. Even this Padawan version of Kenobi is - unsurprisingly - starting to adapt to Soresu extraordinarily well.
Jinn begin to train Skywalker as well using his green lightsaber, sparring with Kenobi. Of course, the boy has yet to stagger Kenobi in training but he is learning surprisingly quickly how to touch the Force and can do several things.
Eventually, they arrive onto Naboo, and Maul hopes that the Trade Federation hasn't convinced the Gungans to join them. Anything can happen with this changed timeline, though the shadows of whom Maul have merged with has been urging him to return to his place to Sidious's side.
Quite frankly, Maul understands why Ventress returned to Dooku at the end of the Clone Wars. Traumatized people would return to their abusers all of the time, and even after all these decades - Maul is finding it tempting to let bygones be bygones and return to Sidious to carry out his bidding. That is apart of the shadows that Maul blended with...
Although the Queen had intended to meet up with the leader with that goofy Gungan, something within the Force screams that Maul should be more cautious, and he listens to that part, knowing that Binks might be idiotic enough to get them all killed...
The Zabrak is not doing the right thing this time around only to have his life tragically cut short.
To keep up the pose of not dampening her makeup, Padmé is persistent to not jump into the water, and Binks offered his services, but Maul instantly shut down the idea, offering a bit of his abilities known as shielding underwater. One of the Handmaidens come forward, offering her assistance, and while Maul is initially not sold on the idea, Padmé allows it.
Maul wraps a shield around them which prevents them from getting wet, jumps into the water with his companions, and move to the Gungan city. He feels the Force Presences of the Gungans, but continues his move underneath, until they make their way inside of the inner city. So the Droids haven't removed them from their inner cities yet like in the original timeline?
Hm, curious.
The Gungans in fact seems at peace, and perhaps the reason of this change is because Sidious is still adjusting his plans to remove Maul from the equation without kriffing himself in the process. The likelihood of this Trade Federation Invasion succeeding has lessen to immense proportions.
Maul walks up to the Gungan leader along with Padmé and her Handmaiden, Sabé. "Boss Nass?" The Queen states, earning a nod from the larger Gungan, and scowls from the others who start to gesture for nearby guards to remove the three. "I am Queen Amidala of Naboo. I come before you in peace. We need your assistance. People are dying."
"Wessa don't want to get involved with yousa war." The Gungan leader says in a tone that broods no argument.
"I can show you that the people alongside you is suffering," Maul replies, knowing that he would have to settle for the Gungans to join him in these troubling times.
A soft laugh vibrates from the leader, who hold out a hand, halting the Soldiers from advancing, "And how do yousa thinkin about doin theesa?"
"Your Honour," the Handmaiden begs, walking ahead of the Queen.
"Whosa dis?" He asks.
"I am Queen Amidala," she reveals in a grave tone, stunning even the Zabrak. Maul curses himself as a fool. "This here is Sabé, my loyal bodyguard. I come before you because Naboo needs your help."
"Wessa been approached by the Viceroy. Wessa not threaten by him." Ah, that explain things. Sidious is indeed a devious old bastard to use the strain relationship between Nubians and Gungans for his own advantage...
Just a way for his former Master to up him once more. Well, Maul is not going to let that happen.
"Nute Gunray is a man who makes promises but only serves his own purposes," Maul states coldly, hiding the irritation at being deceived. His younger self would have probably not even noticed the differences.
"Naboo needs your help, please!" The real Queen begs.
"Naboo? Yousa think yousa so smartiea, yousa think yousa brains so big! Yousa speak like weesa below yousa, like weesa not good like yousa. Why should we…"
Maul outstretches his arm, causing the Gungan Guards to move forward instinctively, only for red glows to begin filling the air, manifestations making themselves known. "Look for yourself," he declares, "and see the fate of those suffering." The manifestations abruptly changes, highlighting images of families being torn apart, of Droids terrorizing innocents civilians, of children being starved and beaten.
The Gungan council can see the change in their leader, know that these manifestations will change his mind and endanger their own people, and move to intervene, "Boss yousa shouldn't…"
But he has heard enough of their refusals and whines, enough of their protests. "QUIET!" He shouts, tears forming in his eyes and slowly making their way down his face. His own children had died at a young age and it left a hole in his heart that may never be opened again. "Bring da armies, weesa marching to war!"
"Gather your troops and march to the great plains. There the enemy will gather, from the cities, away from their defenses and allowing the Naboo to be freed as well." Maul says.
Good, Naboo has their Army, but Maul feels strangely... betrayed. He doesn't know why. Betrayal means that you would have trusted that person, but there is an anger to Sabé that haven't been there before... and hurt.
Maul doesn't want to run her through but he feels a genuine lost of trust that has been there before.
Anakin Skywalker has been feeling a coldness that permanents there. It's worse than his talk with Padmé back on Tatooine as they left the planet. A voice is whispering so badly into his head, and his eyes slowly begin to close. Sweats start going down his face, dampening his clothes...
Anakin twitches wildly, something wet going down his eyes as a intense pain forms in his forehead beyond anything he ever went through before, until he recognizes the figure of Maul approaching. By now, Anakin is gasping for air, convulsing and trembling...
"Maul... Help me!"
Maul places his hands on his shoulders. "Skywalker, what is it?"
"Something... is there. It wants to draw me in!" Anakin exclaims.
Maul's hands on his shoulders successfully keeps him up, maintaining his footing. Maul stretches out and feel... He detects a intense darkness that hasn't been there before wrapped around the Chosen One, destined to leave the boy into total loneliness and helplessness, something that the Zabrak feels compelled to not allow for some strange reason.
Darth Plagueis's signature is there in his dark glory.
"Close your eyes," Maul commands, placing a hand on the boy's head. The child would not become Plagueis's slave!
In his head, he can feel a loud commanding voice, moving through the boy's mind effortlessly.
"DON'T TRY TO RESIST IT, BOY!"
Maul snarls as he presses against the darkness in his head. Sensing the problem, Qui-Gon also does so, using the meditation tricks that Dooku has taught him previously throughout the years. At a command from his Master, Obi-Wan does so as well. It take a combined effort of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Maul to finally ground the boy's mind in check so he wouldn't have been seduced.
The boy's mind finally closes him out, and Maul stands up, sensing that the Sith have let up for now. The Sith is finding it really difficult to not allow his predatory instincts to slip through, wanting vengeance yet again for the boy... strangely. To think, Maul was willing to serve the same Order who is sadistic enough to use a little boy to fulfill their plans.
The Sith currently needs a lot of changes or a absolute demolition.
"I'm going to kill him," Maul promises darkly, murmuring a bunch of curses in various different languages, each that Anakin clearly recognizes given how many times he flinches.
"Maul-" Qui-Gon begins to speak.
"Silence," Maul replies, waving his hand to shut down any argument. "You forget I am no Jedi."
Obi-Wan comes forward to stand aside Maul. "I may not view Anakin too positively, but at the end of the day, he is just a kid. A kriffing kid! I stand alongside you, Darth Maul."
"Darth Plagueis is a scientist at heart. Either, he would want the boy as a Apprentice or he would want to conduct experiments on the boy given his Force Potential," the Zabrak elaborates. "He may not prefer torture as much as my former Master, but he is still a Sith through and through. Plagueis cannot leave here alive or the boy would be targeted for the rest of his life."
"Are you suggesting that he is more sympathetic than his Apprentice?" Obi-Wan asks, crossing placing a hand on his chin, recording everything that is being currently told to them about Plagueis.
"No," Maul replies before beginning to elaborate what he knows of his Master. "Plagueis is worse than his Apprentice in all manners. Sidious may have been corrupted from the beginning and prefer torture methods, but Plagueis is the Dark Lord of the Sith and can manipulate you into a state of total helplessness. Plagueis even considered to run research on your Grandmaster at one point. While many would prefer to die from Plagueis, it does not change the fact that he is still a monster and thus the greater threat."
Silence passes for a moment before the Queen of Naboo approaches with her Handmaidens.
"You must command your people," Maul demands, staring at her with his yellow eyes. "We have felt a disturbance in the Force. Someone is waiting for us at Theed and he would slaughter us all. You must go underground."
"I would fight for all my subjects, and as far as I am concerned, you are each not only my subjects but also friends," Padmé replies defiantly, irritating the Zabrak slightly.
"Possibly confronting Plagueis can result in Gunray to continue to rule," Maul replies, also acknowledging the fact that the Queen isn't a Jedi nor is her aides. They would all be putting themselves at risks. "I don't want you to go into danger like that, your highness."
Maul storms away, feeling as Sabé's eyes bear into the back of his skull with saddening eyes.
Maul stares at Padmé, the Queen of Naboo. Or rather, would it be more appropriate to call her Sabé, the Queen's loyal bodyguard? He'd planned to have words with that irritating little spitfire when she was alone. Her red robes make her... endearing, and the Zabrak doesn't know why he feels all sorts of emotions surrounding this blasted woman.
"You lied to me," he tells her directly and without care, a slight tinge of rage colouring his words. All of the Guards turn to look at them.
Padmé or rather Sabé's smile is sweet and vaguely ironic. If she had been offended or otherwise moved by his words, she didn't show it.
"Let me make it up to you then. Come with me." Sabé says.
One of the Officers moves to protest with a wary glare to Maul yet he is silenced with a simple flick of the false Queen's wrist.
"Officer Jannick, I am not threatened by this man. We'll be okay." The Captain thinks about it for a moment.
Maul stares at the Officer and sighs. "Don't follow on my account. We'll be fine."
Sabé actually chuckles a bit at that comment. So the woman can show emotions after all? Interesting...
The Officer nods at the woman's order and leaves them on their own. "Follow me."
The Zabrak does so, giving her a disbelieving stare. Is she no better than his former Master who lied to him as well throughout the majority of his former life?
"You could have addressed me privately, you know," Sabé says, crossing her arms across her chest and regarding him with a smirk.
"You lied to me," Maul repeats the words from earlier, this time with more anger. "You are nothing but the Queen's protection, her loyal bodyguard... an emotionless copy of the real thing..."
"In my defence why would I trust someone who I just met with such a secret?" Sabé asks cheekily but slightly defensively.
Maul sneers. "I can see it now. If I came on board, each of your Handmaidens would have been captured, yet there would have been hope as it would have been you who signed the treaty. The forged signature would have been invalid, unless Nute Gunray tried to paint things differently."
Sabé nods but that is not the heart of the matter.
Maul senses it. "Additionally, I can sense her protection is something that you heavily value."
"I-" Sabé hesitates hesitantly, not sure how to explain her relationship with Padmé to a total stranger. "I would do everything I can do to keep her safe but sometimes it doesn't feel like I do enough to satisfy her."
The Zabrak crosses his arms across his chest, predicting what is to come. "You have a question."
Sabé seems nervous briefly before... "Maul do you have any siblings?"
Maul recalls when Savage was stabbed through, his horrified expression...
"Yes," he admits. "I left them behind years ago..."
Sabé is shocked by the pain in his voice but she prompts. "Would you die for them?"
"Perhaps," Maul replies abruptly, though he knows the answer to that question already.
"You-" Sabé hesitates yet again, "I... What happened to them?"
Maul snarls. Usually pain fuels him but instead now he is angrier than before. "I was the best of us all. My former Master sensed it. My memories were wiped. I don't remember my parents but my brothers were means for his disposal." Why is he telling her all this?
"Oh, what were their names?"
Crippling agony...
"My past is only for me to know," the Zabrak continues, surprisingly not as hostile as before but rather solemn, and before Sabé could have pressed further, Maul continues in a bitter tone. "I can sense that you are a good fighter. It will be a shame if your use for the Queen expires..."
Sabé shivers, and she can tell he is not threatening. "Are you suggesting that Pad- the Queen would ever abandon me?"
"Yes," Maul replies bluntly, the usual tone back now and the expression as cold as ever. "Do you have any other ambition outside of being a servant?"
"I don't," Sabé admits. "Being a Handmaiden pays heavily and being close to the Queen also work." She stops herself before deciding to push only a little further. "Do you after you stop doing whatever you're doing now?"
"No."
"Perhaps returning to your brothers and maybe your forgotten mother? Quit being whatever this Sith is and taking it easy?" Sabé asks.
"The former is a possibility. The latter... I admittedly don't know." Maul admits before motioning back to the others with one indication of his hand. "Shall we return before our presence starts to be missed?"
Maul does have a point. After all, the fight will begin soon, and as much as she wishes to continue this conversation, Sabé knows that she has to finish her duty.
Save Naboo...
"Yes, I suppose we shall."
After the brief argument, Maul watches from the back as the Nubians and Gungans begin to assemble. He does not participate in their preparations, merely standing back after they have went to woodlands to begin planning. He did catch one of the other Queen's Captains mentioning that the Federation's army is much larger and stronger than anticipated.
But that isn't his concern to be honest. He moves to sit down next to a tree and closes his eyes, stilling his mind and focusing. He also keeps a close eye on Skywalker who doesn't seem to be showing any other disturbing attitude despite what happened earlier. Plagueis must have quit looking at the boy's potential spawned by the Force - unlikely! - or wants to kill them all first before conducting with his plans for what he craves to do with the boy.
"Skywalker, stay behind me under any means necessary," Maul says sharply, knowing that by all rights the boy should have stayed on Coruscant. There is no point dwelling as he is here now.
You know he is kinda...
"Are you going to be alright against this Plagueis guy?" Skywalker asks, and Maul feels his chest catching in on itself as if he is about to collapse at the boy's fear.
"Yes, I have trained for many years to keep myself safe," Maul retorts, knowing that he shouldn't be so dismissive, but also not liking anyone fondling over him for so long.
Ugh cute! There! I said it!
Anakin nods, but says nothing else. His fear for him is still palpable. It also reinforces his opinion that he really wouldn't do well in the Jedi Order. He fears and cares too readily. It is a strength but also a weakness, depending on whether one's loved ones come to harm or fell in danger.
Given his own troubles, Maul knows he cannot take him in, despite how some strange part of him wishes to do so. He shall feast upon this bond and assure that the Jedi doesn't do too much harm to the boy's mental status.
Maul has no time to alleviate his concerns as they move out, hopping on speeders to get them to the capital city of Theed. Perhaps this is for the best; a few mere Guards wouldn't be able to keep Skywalker safe at the overwhelming of the Droids. Besides, the Force is with him, and it wouldn't allow him to be harmed...
Hopefully...
They break off into small groups. He stays with the Jedi and the Queen, keeping himself protectively in front of Skywalker as the Queen fires a small blinking light at one of the other groups sneaking past the Droid patrols in Theed.
Jinn kneels down in front of Skywalker and speaks softly, "Once we get inside, find a safe place to hide and stay there."
"Sure," Skywalker answers sheepishly, and Maul knows instantly that he WILL NOT do that.
He is moderately amused when Jinn seems to have noticed it too. "Stay there."
Then there is no more time for words as the distraction group opens fire, blowing up a Trade Federation tank and causing hell to break loose. Maul ignites his lightsaber first and move to the side of the palace, parrying blaster bolts and dealing with any Droid that come near. Kenobi and Jinn follows, lightsabers activated, but not prepared.
Maul has to admit part of him miss being in battle. He ought to ask the Queen of Naboo if he can take the dismantled Droids on a later date. Okay! Maybe a little part of him wants to experiment on the prototype Confederacy Navy of the past.
Maul, Jinn, and Kenobi lead the group as they make their way into the palace hanger. Maul assures that the fake Queen is not harmed, not knowing why he feels so obligated to keep her safe.
"Anakin, cover, now!" Jinn shouts, obviously sensing the threat as well.
The boy dives away as the battle persists and the Queen command her pilots to their ships.
Maul continues to move through the onslaught of Droids, knowing what this must seem in the perspective of the Jedi.
It would be hilarious as well as terrifying to see a Sith standing alongside his ancient enemy to those who knows the history, but these days proves that even the impossible can happen.
Hell, Maul time traveled from a time long passed!
Maul merely deflect the blaster bolts away from his allies, calling off the Dark Side as he cuts through them in mere seconds.
The Zabrak turns back, and the conflict returns in blinding fury. The Sith wants nothing but to bathe himself in the blood of the ones behind all of this. He curses the Sith Master who is attempting to take advantage of him from afar...
"Don't think too much. It's not that bad." The monster murmurs in the back of his head, and Maul takes several steps back. "Come now, you can still be my student. My Apprentice wants you dead and would hunt you for life. I, however, can see the potential in you still, and that Sidious was wrong to limit you in such a way. You don't have to be my enemy. Join me and I will complete your training."
And the words are so tempting that Maul almost finds it difficult to not turn his lightsaber on Kenobi and Jinn. He can easily take Skywalker as his Apprentice, serve as the mentor he needs...
His influence is already on the boy after all...
The Dark Side swells powerfully, and Maul's eyes burn hotly. Darth Maul thrust a lightsaber inside of a Droid's abdomen before redirecting the strike to another Droid, chopping the machine's head off. He can imagine Jedi in their place, their desperate stares as they continue to try to back away from the animal going for them, before Skywalker approaches amongst all corpses, his blue lightsaber lit, an angry expression painted across his face...
"You're a monster!"
Stop! Maul is fighting within himself. Blast it all!
"Kneel! Just recognize your power and join me. We can start our own Sith Order, one far better than the Jedi."
Maul finds it harder and harder to keep himself from breaking down and accepting the offer. This Sith needs to die today or else the voice may never go away! The demons that is the Dark Side is still tearing against him!
The hanger is cleared in short order, the Naboo Guard dealing with the last of the Droids. Numbly, Maul steps in front of them, his lightsaber still activated. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan eyes him curiously, the younger's eyes more cautious...
"Maul, are you alright?" Qui-Gon asks, seeming slightly worried on his behalf.
Maul fights harsher against the voice that reignites his Sith Assassin's instincts. Plagueis knows he can reach that side of him, no matter which future he comes from.
"No," Maul replies in a shaky voice, feeling cold as he regards both men.
"Kill them both."
"Yes!" The Sith Assassin and untamed animal yells within him.
"No!" Maul shouts, causing everyone in the hanger to look at him.
Maul cradles his head with both of his hands, trying to keep the voices out, as he speaks in a raspy tone. "Jinn, it seems that the Dark Lord is trying to find a way to gain access to my mind. He wants me to serve him. H-he wants me to kill both of you."
Now, both Jedi's eyes go wide-
"Are you feeling tempted to?" Kenobi asks worriedly. He can excuse the boy for not knowing how to refuse the Sith given how experienced he us, but he cannot excuse a man who is clearly excelled in the Force, especially the Dark Side.
"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon says in his scolding voice, causing the younger man to shift slightly, before approaching Maul wearily and taking his lightsaber hilt away from him. "Don't let him win. He wants to use you."
Maul does so, feeling Jinn's support. Although they don't have a Force Bond, they still do have respect for one another somewhat, and that is enough. At least it should be...
"I am still weak emotionally," Maul states solemnly, staring at the ground, wondering if he should have just remained on Coruscant... with Sidious. "I-I am worried that if I confront him, he would corrupt me."
It is as he fears. It would take the older Maul time before he can crush that side of him that still wanted blood.
"Red group, blue group, everybody this way!" a Guard Captain calls out, putting an abrupt end to the conversation, though the concerns are still there on the Jedi.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Skywalker's voice comes as he peeks out of the cockpit.
The murmurs surprisingly go away at that voice, drawing Maul's confusion.
The boy...
The boy...
Anakin...
"Anakin stay there," Jinn commands as they moves for a set of blast doors, "You'll be safe there."
"But I...," Begin Skywalker.
"Stay in that cockpit," Jinn repeats sternly, pointing at him strictly, making the boy scowl a bit and pout.
The doors open, and Maul shudders as he stares at the door. In another reality, Maul would have been standing there waiting for them and prepared for battle, wanting to cut the whole Naboo party down, including the Jedi. They would have all separated at the command of the Queen, leaving the Jedi alone.
Now, Maul is on the side of the Queen, but that does not mean they are not without total threat. Several Droidekas are instead standing in front of them in replacement of the Maul from the former timeline, and Maul instantly reacts, raising them into the air, crushing them immediately. The Nubians stare with awe and even Kenobi's face breaks in shock.
They make their way through, surprisingly without resistance. Maul can still feel the echoes in his head, but Jinn and Skywalker's (unintentional) support is really helpful. He can only hope that more of the Jedi will become like Jinn in the future despite his ignorance.
Maul feels the shadows as he moves through the corridors...
Something dark...
Getting closer and closer.
"You know that he is in there," Maul tells the two Jedi. "Are you ready?"
"We're ready," Jinn answers for both of them, his hilt in his hand.
Maul opens the door slowly, predatory eyes looking around, before motioning to Jinn and Kenobi who comes in, lightsabers activated. He expects to see the Sith Lord in the middle of the Throne Room, waiting for them, instead all he sees is the chair of the Queen flipped around and facing the opposite direction.
Kenobi and Jinn follows suit, surprised likewise at the lack of enemy present.
"Are you sure he's here?" Naberrie asks in a whisper.
Maul responds. "He is. I can feel it."
"Greetings, Queen Amidala, I have been waiting for you." The figure sounds like Gunray but something is... off. Maul cannot help but feel a big surge of 'wrong' in the Force...
Droids enter the Throne Room, their blasters primed to their direction. Each of them keep their lightsabers up, the Naboo party also training their blasters on the Droids. The Droids will not fire unless commanded and Maul, in truth, is trying to find a way out of this one.
Not caring that he can be shot, Panaka walks ahead of the Guards, aiming his blaster at the figure sitting in front of them on the Queen's chair. The fact that someone is sitting in the chair of the Queen and going against many cultures is insulting for all of the Nubians there.
The real Queen feels a massive ego rise. She is the Queen of Naboo, meant to sustain those traditions. Should they discover the disgusting sight, some of her people will shame her for allowing someone who is not Nubian to sit in that chair. Hopefully, that embarrassment wouldn't escape those who are present.
Regardless, Panaka is still loyal to the end, and so are his Guards, who give the figure the most disgusted look she has ever seen from the man.
"Nute Gunray, you are under arrest for your crimes against Naboo, the death of multiple natives, the torture of others, and your illegal blockage against our planet. Turn around and submit to Naboo's custody or suspect to be forced to!" Panaka shouts with barely constrained rage, and Maul can see that he just wants to open fire, despite how it will label him as a murderer.
He continues to shout for Gunray to follow his orders until the chair swivels around, and a Muun with a respirator is staring at them all, causing the Captain to instantly stop shouting. Fear paralyzes his whole being.
The Muun almost looks like he takes pity for a moment. "Why so serious?"
Darth Plagueis cackles.
Arthur's note: Unlike my past fics, I'm changing everything around. I love Jar Jar but I want a less humourous fic and down to earth type of fic. This is a Darth Maul with PTSD fic and is very serious to the point where he may take jokes literally. Honestly, I'm like that irl due to past trauma sometimes, and I don't think I can ever recover from that.
Asajj Ventress returning to Dooku? What? Didn't she die in the Dark Disciple novel? Yes in Disney Canon, but in the EU continuity, she'd returned to carry out his bidding, not imagining a life beyond serving Dooku. I'm pretty sure you are all like why would she do that and I was too at first? And yet I pose how many times do abused individuals return to their abusers no matter what they did to them? Like Vader did with Sidious? Like Maul did with Talzin? Surprise surprise, Asajj was abandoned by Dooku again in the Battle of Boz Pity, but it's understandable to return to abusive people through manipulations and misplaced sense of loyalty, no matter what they do to you.
Just realize throughout writing this EU Asajj Ventress never had a chance to redeem herself and was left adrift in a unknown part of the galaxy as she have lost everything she'd loved due to blind faith in Dooku. :( I kinda wish they did follow something like that path in the new show, possibly setting up a Luke and Asajj meeting in the near future. I hate the Dark Disciple novel and feel like the Quinlan x Ventress ship was so incredibly forced so I settle her returning to Dooku and having her fate be yet unknown in the original timeline.
Eh, take it or leave it.
May the Force be with you all always.