AN: Hey guys, I'm so sorry that it took me so long to update, but my term was horribly stressful and I wasn't having the ability to write anything good. But now I have vacation, so future updates will be more often. And a big thanks to all my loyal readers, I really hope it was worth the wait.
Chapter 16
How could he have let that happen? There was absolutely no way one of his prisoners could escape, but nonetheless, he stood inside his cell while the Jedi-boy had managed to flee. He gripped the shockwhip tighter and glanced at his remaining prisoner. Kenobi laid on his belly and was panting heavily, but for all that, he wore a disgustingly satisfied grin on his face. But not for long. He would pay double for the humiliation. Maul nearly lost control over his anger at the thought, but he was too well-trained to let it overrule him yet. Kenobi had to wait, there was still a chance to get Skywalker. He used his communicator to tell Savage. Now that he thought of it, it was a good challenge to see if he was worth the apprenticeship. Savage had healed well during the last days and should be able to catch an unarmed Jedi, assumed he didn't get gulled. That was the problem. Savage was more a man of muscle than of brain, a sore point that had to change as quickly as possible.
"Yes, master?"
"Savage, the boy escaped, he is headed for the exit or the hangar. Make sure you get him. If you have to, kill him."
Maul made sure to emphasize the last sentence, just to see Kenobi's mien falter.
He lowered his arm, and finally, he could let all the anger that had accumulated while the Jedi-brat had shocked him with his own weapon out.
Containing the rage was the hard part, letting it go not so much.
He had to let it take over, and it was even easier since he learned how to use the Force-lightning. It broke free of him, once again, straight into his foe's chest, impacting with an anodyne cry of agony. He had to control himself and the rage extremely good to stop it before Kenobi would faint. Barely anyone knew that being a creature of rage was not a given state. It was a great act of balance, for if you had too much rage, it would control you, whilst if you had too little, it would make you weak and undetermined. Sidious had made sure to instill that lesson into him, he inoculated it with Force-lightning and forged it further with even more painful methods, both physical and mental. Maul would once hand these things down to Savage, not because he was cruel, but because he knew that all he went through was necessary to create such a deadly weapon as he was. The ultimate Sith, trained since childhood.
A smile appeared on his lips, partly proud, partly basking in his higher frame of rage. It was all about control, but to dispel such a heavy amount of rage, one had to let it take over for a short while, instead of letting it disintegrate one's goals, one's mind and finally the entire being. He wouldn't make that experience ever again, living like an animal in filth and garbage.
So he let the rage take over, encircle his soul in a maelstrom of hate that consumed not only him, but also the cowering Jedi before him.
Anakin was on the run. He tried to suppress his heavy breathing, but the pain, the effort and the undernourishment took their toll. It was strange. He should have heard Maul's heavy claw-steps long ago, but either Maul had lost track, or he didn't even care to follow him.
Suddenly, the Force jerked him to the right. He dove into an opening, listening for steps. But the Force pushed him to continue on the right side. Damn, the hangar with the spaceship was on the left, where should he go? He decided that it had to count for something to be the Chosen one, and the Force has never mislead him yet. So he went into the adjacent chamber. As soon as he entered, a big smile broke free. He knew exactly why the Force had sent him here. There was his lightsaber, he could feel it. And it was not even hidden very well, he overran the security of the safe in under ten seconds.
Obi-Wan's saber was there, too. He took both their weapons and tugged them into the rest of his tunic.
Back to his task. There were only two turns left. Anakin couldn't decide if he should course or congratulate Obi-Wan for letting him learn the way to his escape that accurately.
His thoughts were quickly interrupted when he saw the brawny figure of Opress directly before him. Couldn't he once have a bit of luck? - Well, probably he had, for Savage was impaired by his missing arm, still bandaged, while Anakin had the advantage of two lightsabers.
He took a deep breath and realized that he had to give at least one point to the Sith's account, because Anakin's rib-injury, not to mention his whipped back, hurt like hell.
He didn't even have time to come up with a strategy, for Savage came at him while swinging his double-bladed lightsaber like a club.
Anakin ignited both his and Obi-Wan's lightsaber and blocked the first heavy thrust with them. The wounds on his back reopened, causing him to hiss in pain. He deflected the Sith's weapon to the side and started his counterattack, which Savage barely avoided.
Anakin grinned. Savage was no match for him, the idiot actually used a double-bladed lightsaber with one arm, there was absolutely no way that he was able to control it. He was clearly inexperienced, and Anakin would exploit it shamelessly. He thrust at Savage's side, so that he had to take an adverse blocking stance. Then, his second lightsaber thrust from the other side.
It was a playful move, and Anakin intently waited for Savage's reaction, for he could either jump back and lose his weapon – or, if he was dumb enough, he would slice himself to death. Some inner part of Anakin rejoiced at the second thought. But Savage made the cleverer decision and lost his blade. Anakin quickly sent it flying behind him, out of reach for the Sith.
And immediately, the inner voice piped up again, demanding that he should kill the worthless Sith. Anakin struck out, but in the last moment, he changed the lethal blow into a powerful Force-push that sent Savage flying into the wall. He was instantly unconscious.
Anakin panted heavily. He had been a hairbreadth away from slaying an unarmed being. Not that he didn't deserve it, but the Jedi Code forbade it. He didn't want to violate it a second time, not for this one-armed and therefore pretty innocuous wanna-be Sith.
He sent him one last glance and went into the hangar. The ship was a very small one, but it opened with the slightest probe of the Force. The controls were totally unfamiliar to him, which was impressive, he thought he would by now recognize every ship, or at least its rough origin.
He was again thankful for the Force, his fingers found their aims without difficulty, and the double-turbines ignited.
Finally, he could do something. Within moments, he was back in space and his heart raced with the inimitable feeling of freedom he only experienced between the stars. Yet, he sobered within seconds when he thought of his difficult task to somehow bring help to Obi-Wan as quickly as possible.
The beeping of his wrist-controller was the first thing he administered after he had given up his control. The second thing was that he had roughened up the Jedi pretty good.
He looked at his wrist, recollecting quickly. Was Savage already done? Or did he have difficulties?
Maul turned around, because although Obi-Wan looked barely sensible, he was an ingenious nuisance, and the less he knew, the better for Maul. But it wasn't his apprentice who contacted him, but one of his automated signals. The scanners on the planet's surface took effect. A small hologram appeared over his wrist. A republic shuttle. Too early. He had planned to stay here longer, but apparently, he had to change his plans. At least the shuttle was a long way from their position, and their scanners wouldn't help them much on the metallic terrain. He had at least three hours to arrange their departure.
Maul looked at his prisoner. His rage was nearly gone, but the animosity towards this particular Jedi sat deeper. It had been a part of who he was since Naboo. Would he change when the Jedi perished? Maybe, he would soon find out. But before he took his leave, he had one more thing to do. Ultimately.
