AN: Yes, another chapter ready. I kind of abandoned the order I had planned for this and future chapters, but I hope it is still understandable. Just don't be too surprised if the perspectives are changing within the chapters. Read and enjoy!
Chapter 5
An hour or so went by until the Sith came back for him. Darth Maul entered first, followed on his heels by Savage Opress.
They were in the middle of a conversation.
"...finally be destroyed by the Sith. They grew weaker and weaker. He - " Maul nodded toward Obi-Wan. " - is one of their Council. One of their best Jedi. Pathetic. It will not be long before the Sith rise to power again."
The Jedi destroyed by the Sith? Obi-Wan thought that Maul was maybe a bit overly optimistic. There were a thousandfold more Jedi than Sith out in the Galaxy. But hubris was a thing one found on the path to the dark side, so it was no surprise to see it unfold in Maul.
"Now, Master Kenobi," he mocked "I will finally have my revenge. You will die here. But not until you are reduced to a pitiful existence that I will eventually end with a finishing stroke."
Obi-Wan saw it in the Sith's eyes, and in his Force presence. He meant everything he said. Obi-Wan released his concerns into the Force, but a faint feeling of sorrow still clung to him.
"And how do you plan to do that? I am a Jedi. Isn't that already your definition of a pitiful existence?"
The corner of Maul's mouth twitched. But there was no humor in his eyes. He stepped right before Obi-Wan, who still sat on the ground, displaying a composed demeanor. But inside, he was more than agitated. With the robotic legs and his gained height, Maul was more intimidating than before. And the rage constantly flashing in his red-yellow eyes didn't help.
Obi-Wan prepared for an assault, and it came. Maul didn't show any creativity and used the Sith trick that he had called Force-choke again. Once more, Obi-Wan was getting no air and was lifted until his feet couldn't touch the ground. Again, he silently cursed the blasted binders around his wrists, and again, he had to stare into Maul's eyes when he watched his struggle against suffocation delightedly. This time, when he was finally released, the Sith's hand was at his throat, holding him upright against the wall.
"I have my methods. You must know that I had a lot of time to plan my revenge. You gave it to me, and now you will suffer for your mistake," he told Obi-Wan in his coarse voice.
With a loud thrumming sound, a red lightsaber appeared in his other hand.
Before Obi-Wan could react, it was at his right biceps, singeing his tunic and the skin underneath. The saber was not moved away and Obi-Wan tried to squirm out of its way, but it was impossible with Maul's hand on his throat and his immobilized hands.
His arm sent him flashes of pain, the blade now cutting into his muscle. He could feel it slowly burn a path through his flesh, turning it red and then black on the way. Sweat was stinging in his eyes and he had to suppress the shaking that wanted to take a hold on his body. When the nasty aroma of his own burned skin reached his nose, it was too much. The pain and the sickness together, enhanced by the deprivations of the journey and the lack of oxygen, sent him into sweet, painless unconsciousness.
"Watch him, Brother. Amongst the highest ranks of the Jedi and still ... weak."
Obi-Wan heard muted words, but he couldn't make sense of them. What happened?
Concentrate on the Force.
As abruptly as a ship coming from hyperspace, the memories hit him, closely followed by intense pain. And a very bad feeling.
"Obi-Wan." He opened his eyes when he heard his name, and only his self-control could prevent him from flinching away from the tattooed face invading his private space.
Maul took his uninjured shoulder and propped him up against the wall, nearly gentle. But the hand remained, threateningly. Obi-Wan remained passive. He had no idea what the Sith planned and he was too occupied with his arm that felt as if Maul's saber still burned it.
"Obi-Wan," he waited until he had the Jedi's whole attention. "I had a lot of time to think about what happened to me. I was convinced that the Force had left me on Theed. But eventually, I began to give it a more detailed look. I came to an alarming conclusion..." He made a dramatic pause before he continued. "Maybe the dark side wanted you to win. So you were able to lead 200 Jedi to their deaths on Geonosis. Look at the galaxy now, shattered by war. Without you - if I had killed you - it would be better off. Maybe the Clone wars wouldn't have even begun yet.
I now understand that my suffering had a purpose. I could not have killed as many Jedi as you did with your imprisonment on Geonosis. I came to believe that the dark side wanted me to suffer and resurrect even stronger. And it provided me with the torn and war-ridden galaxy I need to fulfill my plans. My death reunited me with my brother and the Sith could gain power."
Obi-Wan's face remained bland during the monologue, but inside him, long-buried thoughts were yanked to the surface again, hurting his psyche all the way up. Geonosis. Jabiim. Cato Nemoidia. Florrum.
He had not realized that he was no longer staring into Maul's eyes, but evading them. And the Sith noticed.
"Oh, you have already asked yourself that question. That's an advantage, I don't have to list all the deaths you are responsible for, cause you already did that yourself."
Obi-Wan's head snapped up. "I am not responsible for their deaths," he said, nearly whispering.
Maul readied for the death blow: "And what about your Jedi friend, Adi Gallia? Do you really think she would be dead without you? You do not delude me. I know that you feel responsible for all of them."
And without further words, he nodded to his brother and they left the room.
The duo entered the control room. It was an exact circle of finned steel, and several control panels were smoothly integrated into the walls.
"Brother, that was great. How did you do it?" Savage blurted out. "When you mentioned his guilt, he was completely shocked. His aura faltered. That did not happen when you burned him."
"Yes, brother. As I said, there are many things you still have to learn. It is important to understand your enemy. I had years to come to my conclusions, not aware, but somewhere inside my broken ghost. And when I came to clarity again, it was all there. Kenobi's biggest mistake is that he cares for others. You should have seen him when I gutted his Master..." A dreamy smile appeared for the shortest of moments. "He now conceals his feelings better, but you felt how he reacted."
"Yes, brother. But I fear I can't keep that up when you're away. The mental thing, I mean. I don't know him so well."
"That won't be a problem. I will be back soon and as I already taught you, a weak body evokes a weak spirit. But don't damage him too bad, I like his miserable attempts of resistance. It will be even more satisfactory to see them cede when he breaks. Do not disappoint me, my apprentice."
"I won't, Master," Savage answered, his head bowed in respect.
Maul prepared himself to leave, but he suddenly paused in front of the curved door.
"There is one more thing I need," he said after a moment, turning around for Savage. "Your lightsaber."
Savage was on the verge of objecting, but then he saw in his brother-turned-master's face that he was deadly serious. Slightly irritated, Savage sank to his knees in front of Maul, the dual-bladed saber on his open palms. Maul exchanged his normal blade with the one of his brother.
"Good. I will be back soon and we will continue with my plan."
He finally opened the door and left his brother kneeling on the cold floor, in deep thoughts of what has been revealed to him.
