Chapter 8
Finally. The sensors announced an incoming ship. Just one. Perfect.
But what was that? Strangely, the ship left again, after depositing one life-form. So he would have to make a quick exit if he did not want to be tailed. But first, he would take care of the life-form that had to be a Jedi.
He wondered who they sent, to face the expected Sith duo single-handedly. And they accused the Sith of arrogance. He would gladly absolve them from this un-jedi-like trait.
As the Jedi drew nearer, Maul gently stroked the double-bladed lightsaber of his brother. Shortly before his leave, the dark side suggested that he should take it with him. And it was a good idea. The Jedi would be rather unfamiliar with it. The only Jedi still alive who had had a real fight against a double-bladed saber was already in his clutches. The Jedi would have a hard time with that weapon.
Although, Maul had to admit, it was not an overly practical weapon. One was always in danger of impaling oneself, and it was hard to handle. But he was well-trained and he might have some aces up his sleeve...
When the Jedi came nearer, Maul stepped down the ramp, into the dry and hot air. There he came. He could not see him clearly because the sun that filled the whole horizon was behind the figure, leaving his features in the dark. But the silhouette looked familiar.
Could it be? Was that really Skywalker? Maul's hand clenched around his weapon, pleased but also a bit unsettled. That boy was the best he could hope for regarding his purpose, but one of the hardest to defeat. He heard multiple stories praising his exorbitant talent with the lightsaber. But high prizes required high stakes, and this boy, Kenobi's padawan, would be worth the effort.
Skywalker stopped in some distance of the ramp, glaring at Maul as if he wanted to frighten him. The Sith cast him a smile of rotten teeth instead.
"Have you lost something, Skywalker?"
If possible, the glare went angrier.
"Where is he? Hand him over and I'll let you live"
Interesting, was that boy really so arrogant to believe that he could easily best him, while his master couldn't? He really looked forward to teach Skywalker a lesson.
"Kenobi is not here. But don't worry, my apprentice takes good care of him. And don't bother with the com-link," he added when Skywalker went for it, "I jammed the signal."
He tried anyway, and that gave Maul time to launch himself at the Jedi, his double-bladed saber swirling in his hands.
But Skywalker was no fool. He was ready for him and met his first assault with an angry shove back. Maul went on to deliver vicious blows from all sides, but Skywalker parried them, as if it was just a little distraction for him.
Maul bared his teeth. This green boy should better not underrate him.
He increased the frequency of his blows and his steps, turning the air between the combatants boiling. And Skywalker began to show signs of exhaustion now. He was not made for that climate. His tunic was wet of his perspiration and it ran down his face, forming the dust on his face to mad patterns.
He blocked a back-handed attack of the blue lightsaber and countered with the other side of his staff, but Skywalker was already there. He was talented. But that would not save him.
Maul leapt into the air, doing a backward flip while parrying another blow. He smoothly landed in safe distance of his opponent's saber.
"Already tired?" Skywalker heaved "I saw hutts in better shape than you."
Hate flared through Maul's body, but he would not apply it. Not yet.
"Don't worry. I will last long enough for you. I see only one person gasping here." He responded in a forced low voice. Meanwhile, he deactivated one of his blades, holding the now single-bladed saber diagonally before his body.
"You think you can defeat me with one blade when you couldn't with two?"
That arrogance. Maybe he should try another tactic.
"One blade was more than enough to give me the screams of your master that I wanted to hear. By the time I come back, maybe my apprentice will have him already begging for his death."
Oh, this would be good. Skywalker's posture went rigid and his face twitched. He surely got the desired effect, the question was if he unsettled Skywalker enough to make a mistake.
The Jedi ran to him, his saber flailing through the air like that of a madman. But the blows were strong, and it was straining to block them, so he more and more avoided them, waiting for an opening in Skywalker's mad attack.
But in contrast to his master, Skywalker seemed to be accustomed to wild and angry attacks. He barely left an open spot to attack. Interesting...and unfortunate. Maul noticed how his legs were slowly heating themselves. The friction and the high temperature would soon take its toll on the metal. He did not have much time left.
When their sabers locked again, Maul took the time to channel all his anger, about Kenobi, Skywalker, Dooku, and even about his old master, let it flow through his body and mind to give him barbarous strength and perception.
He broke the lock, and the fight went on, now dominated by Maul. When fighting with a simple blade, it was so much easier to coordinate one's movements and the Sith used the whole freedom that was given to him. He was now delivering blows at ease, and Skywalker noticed, he was forced backward and a line of concern formed between his brows. Where is your certainty now, Skywalker?
The fight went on, two schemes separated by arcs of blue and red light, rimmed by long black shadows the never-setting sun sent in their direction, all under a haze of brown dust.
And then the opportunity came. The dark side told Maul to watch Skywalker's next move, a long blow aimed for his knees. Instead of blocking it, Maul deflected the blade what left Skywalker's side open. Maul would not be fast enough to turn his saber around and get to the spot, but he did not have to. He gave his saber a mental shove and the other blade would emerge right through Skywalker's heart.
No! He would not forget his plan over his anger. He corrected the path of the saber, driving it into Skywalker's ribs, not deep enough to strike the lung.
But it made an impact. Skywalker gasped, both in surprise and pain. He was out of balance now and it was not hard for Maul to grab the boy's sword arm with his metal foot, sending him to the ground. He was a bit disappointed when he realized that Skywalker's hand was a prosthesis, otherwise he would have left some nasty burns with the heated metal. He took the boy's lightsaber and left his weapon ignited threateningly.
Skywalker was in bad shape. He was short of breath and completely drenched in sweat, the dust beginning to stick to his hair, forming brown clots.
"Go on. Kill me and get it over with," he bore.
Maul raised his brows. "Skywalker. I'm disappointed. Do you think I made this whole plan just to kill you? No, you will be the perfect instrument to break your master."
The horror he saw on Skywalker's face completely justified the risk to induct him into his plan.
Skywalker wanted to say something, probably object, but Maul had everything he wanted. No need to listen any further. He jammed his other foot into the boy's head, sending him into oblivion.
That had been a tight victory, but while he dragged Skywalker to his ship, the excitement about his next encounter with Kenobi overpowered his doubts.
