Chapter Five

The Return of Maul

Obi-Wan stood on the abandoned landing platform. He sensed Maul approaching. He also sensed Anakin and Ahsoka moving in his direction, but realized Maul would get here first. He would have to fight him alone for now, until his friend and former Padawan could get to him with Ahsoka. Then he spotted it. The Sith Spacecraft, similar to the one Dooku used to escape Geonosis, was landing. And it landed right in front of him. The ramp then lowered to reveal a half man half machine Maul.

"I see you survived your little fall on Naboo, Maul." Obi-Wan said.

"You! I remember you! I cut down your Jedi friend. Did he die, the pitiful excuse for a Jedi?" Maul asked.

"I won't let you escape. Not this time. Last time, I assumed you to be destroyed. I was wrong. I won't make the same mistake." Obi-Wan replied, drew his lightsaber, and activated it. Maul drew his as well, a newly constructed replica of the one he once had, and activated both blades.

"Jedi fool. You think me so weak. I am more powerful than you will ever become. It is time for you to die." Maul sneered. At that moment, two Jedi jumped down from above, and Obi-Wan used the Force to push Maul back.

"About time you two showed up. I was beginning to wonder whether I had to face him alone." Obi-Wan said, while Maul recovered himself. Anakin and Ahsoka drew and activated their lightsabers.

"Good to know you didn't start without us. We'll take him together." Anakin replied.

"And here I was ready to say the same thing." Obi-Wan said. Then Maul charged them, striking at Kenobi first while somehow deflecting attacks from both Ahsoka and Skywalker. As the fight became more intense, Maul became more desperate. In a fit of rage, he Force pushed Anakin against the fall, knocking him unconscious, leaving the fight to Ahsoka and Obi-Wan. Ahsoka wanted to help her Master, but chose to help Obi-Wan defeat Maul, just as she had been taught to do.

"You can never defeat me, Kenobi. I will destroy you and all those you love. Including your powerless, pitiful Padawan Skywalker, just like I did your Master." Maul taunted. Obi-Wan responded by pushing forward with fury, something he hadn't done since that day on Naboo. He had been reckless then, and that was why he'd nearly failed, had failed, to destroy this Sith Lord.

Ahsoka jumped over the Sith to attack from behind. Maul was unaware, and felt the burning sensation of the edge of Ahsoka's blade slashing against his back. Still, through the pain, he continued, this time focusing on Ahsoka. It wasn't until Obi-Wan slashed through his left wrist that he realized he had been fooled. Cursing inwardly, he Force pushed both Ahsoka and Obi-Wan away, began to make for his ship, but was quickly intercepted by a now conscious Skywalker. As their blades locked in combat, Ahsoka drilled her blade into Mauls shoulder, paralyzing his right arm entirely. Cursing, he used a blast of Force Repulse to push the Jedi away, and boarded his ship. Before they could recover, the ship had sped off. Anakin looked around, first glancing to Ahsoka.

"It's alright, Master. I'm fine." Ahsoka informed him, sensing his worry for her. Obi-Wan, however was not. At least not emotionally.

"Sith-spit! I can't believe he got away! Anakin, I'm taking your starfighter. I'm going after him. I'm going to finish this." Obi-Wan said, and began to angrily sprint towards Anakin's ship.

"Obi-Wan, wait! You can't go! He wants you to follow him!" Anakin called after his friend. Obi-Wan stopped, considered Anakin's words. He turned to look at his former apprentice, a look of resignation, thanks, and also a look of apology.

"I know, Anakin. I shouldn't have gotten carried away. It was not my place, and it is not like me to do so. I'm sorry." Obi-Wan said. Anakin didn't know at first what Obi-Wan was really apologizing for. Then the realization set in that he was apologizing not only for his outburst, but for not being there when he needed him most in the Chancellors Office.

"Obi-Wan. It's not your fault. You were occupied half a galaxy away with Grievous. You couldn't have known what was going to happen." Anakin replied.

"Yes, I know, but I should have been there, and I'm sorry for that." Obi-Wan said. Apparently, he wasn't going to just let this go.

"It's alright, Master. I forgive you." Anakin told him.

"Alright. Now, tell me where you hid the Younglings." Obi-Wan said.

"I sent them to Tatooine. I thought they would be safer there, away from Sidious' agents. No one else knows where they are. Or at least no one else did until now. I had planned on telling Master Yoda this, but I had to wait until Sidious gave me the opportunity to do as I wanted. Instead I got stuck here on this barren heat and lava ridden planet."

"So the Younglings are safe, then? Who exactly did you get to watch them, Anakin?" Kenobi asked.

"I don't know if Qui-Gon told you about him or if you've met him, but my childhood friend Kitster agreed to watch over them until I returned."

"I remember him, yes. And you gave him your mothers house?"

After I buried...buried my mother, I signed the house and its possessions over to him. He and his wife have been living there for the last 5 years."

"Why do I get the feeling that we're about visit the one planet that has way too many sandstorms?" Ahsoka asked.

"Well, Snips, we have to look after the Younglings. And we also need to find a place where we can contact Masters Ti and Yoda. I have the feeling they'll all want to converge on Tatooine for a Council meeting, and I'm pretty sure I'm not invited." Anakin said as Obi-Wan walked out of earshot.

"You know, I'm not a Youngling anymore. I wish you'd stop calling me that."

"Old habits die hard, Snips."

"Right....Skyguy." Ahsoka replied with a smirk.

The Jedi made their way back to their cruiser. Anakin had Artoo return to his starfighter and fly it in formation with them on his own. He hated having to leave Artoo alone like this, but he thought it would be best if he allowed Obi-Wan and Ahsoka some peace of mind by making the trip to Tatooine with them. Once aboard, Obi-Wan proceeded to meditate while Anakin and Ahsoka looked after the ship. Padme was still resting comfortably in a back compartment. Ahsoka decided to ask her master who had attacked them.

"Master, who was that back there? I can't believe Sidious would have a new apprentice this quickly." Ahsoka asked.

"I don't know, Ahsoka. I remember Master Qui-Gon and Master Kenobi fighting a Sith when I was nine years old, the day Master Qui-Gon died. I was rash enough not to pay too much attention. Instead I went and destroyed a droid control ship. Without, I might add, getting a single scratch." Anakin replied.

"At nine years old, you weren't even a Jedi yet, and you managed to destroy battleship. There's no way you could've been that lucky." she answered, staring in disbelief.

"Well....I did have at least some help. There was a squadron of Naboo Starfighters out there with me." Anakin replied.

"Ok, so you got lucky. Still doesn't beat the fact that I destroyed Ventress."

"The only reason you defeated Ventress was because she was too busy trying to kill me."

"You were unconscious on the ground, practically inches from the edge of a cliff, right in front of her! At least admit I didn't get you killed."

"I suppose that's true. From a certain point of view."

"You're never going to admit that I'm just a little better than you at lightsaber tactics, are you?"

"Oh, I admit you're good, but not better than me. At least not yet. You're almost there, though. Remember, you still have much to learn, and I still have much to teach you, my young Padawan."

"Alright, you win." Ahsoka replied, keeping her emotions in check. It was true, she felt like a brother to her Master, even though they weren't even the same race. However, the Code didn't allow for attachments, so she couldn't even voice her feelings. Her Master got up. She sensed his intention, but now wasn't the time to be talking to Obi-Wan. He needed time to meditate.

"I'm going to see if Obi-Wan is alright." Anakin told her.

"Master, I don't think that's a good idea. He needs to meditate. Besides, you're the one who taught me that to interrupt a fellow Jedi's meditation wasn't exactly the best thing to do. Have patience. He'll talk to us when he's ready." Ahsoka replied.

"Never thought I'd see the day when I'd be learning something from my Padawan, but you're right on this one, Snips. Now, lets get to Tatooine." Anakin said in return, sat back down, and they made the jump to hyperspace.