OK, so things have been a bit slow for the last couple of chapters, but that's about to change, so bare with it!
Torli: Wow, thanks for the encouragement! I'm really thrilled you like it, I was really worried people would think it was too out there and lose interest. The updating is probably going to drop off over the next few postings as my job takes priority over this story, but I'm galvanized by the interest to get it up here! Thanks again!
elektralyte: Yeah, the update thing is not going to last, I'm afraid, I'll try to keep reasonably up to date. As for Maul, I always thought it was a waste of such an enigmatic character and I understand the motivation behind killing him, but it did get me thinking about the what-ifs. It's just taken me 14 years (Oh my goodness, really? Fourteen years? Yikes, I'm old!) to a) come up with something that's hopefully plausible and b) find a place to post it! I think the next few posts should keep up his developing character and I hope I've done him justice.
Here goes, again!
"Now shall we inspect your troops?" The sith lord picked himself up off the floor.
Maul gestured to Kenobi they were leaving, but Kenobi stayed where he was.
"That wasn't a request, 'General'," he continued and he pulled Kenobi up off the floor with the force. Kenobi had to rebalance himself quickly once Maul released him to prevent another trip to the floor.
"I hardly think silk pajamas are appropriate attire for a troop inspection, and as I said, I'm no general!"
"You refuse to tell me what to call you, so it's my only choice at the moment. As for the clothes," he headed to the hidden elevator Kenobi had not seen until now, "they're pretty common round here. No one will bat an eyelid. "
Having no choice but to follow, Kenobi headed to the elevator, his bare feet slapping against the lift floor a stark contrast to the silence as he had walked over the carpet in the apartment.
"I hope the floors aren't too cold. First impressions and all that. It wouldn't look very good for the future and 'Great General' to be hopping about the inspection site," he said sarcastically as the elevator began its descent. Maul merely looked Kenobi over and chuckled lightly. He was about to make comment, when the elevator doors opened and Kenobi came face to face with the most striking woman he had ever seen.
Her skin was a most intriguing silver-gray and she had tattoos similar to Maul's that laced with much more grace across her face than his. She was athletically slender and dressed all in black with the glint of two curved lightsabre hilts at her waist. But the most memorable thing about her was her hardened penetrating stare from deep purple eyes and Kenobi was transfixed by her presence.
"Hello there," he said softly, still locked in that gaze. Her irises suddenly became swirling pools of rage and disgust.
Her response to his greeting was to slam him into the back of the elevator with a force choke that had him lifted off the floor.
/Well, at least I don't have to worry about cold floors!/ he thought to himself as he clawed at his neck.
"This is your replacement for me?" hissed the woman.
Maul just folded his arms and watched how the scene would unfold.
"How could I possibly replace you, Assaj. You offer far too much entertainment. But perhaps you should introduce yourself to our guest before he succumbs to your gentle touch."
The hold on Kenobi only seemed to intensify around his throat.
/I've had about enough of this!/ he thought and thrust out a force push of his own that sent her slamming into the bulkhead behind her where she slipped to the floor momentarily stunned.
"Charming!" said Kenobi, feeling his throat. Ventress leapt up, blades raised and Kenobi instinctively reached for the closest blade, that of Maul. He flipped it on just in time to defend himself against her attack, the red blades clashing together bathing everyone in a red glow.
Through the hiss and splatter of the blades, both Assaj and Kenobi heard Maul chuckling to himself, witnessing the whole scene with much delight. They both turned to glare at him, which only amused him even more and he folded his arms and leaned back against the lift wall.
"Oh, please, don't mind me, do continue."
Assaj withdrew to lash up and around for another attack and Kenobi swung the blade to defend once again. She pressed into his blade and he had to use both hands to keep her strong arms from bringing her blades down to his flesh. He managed to push her back far enough to once again force push her to the far wall and he leapt from the elevator and began to back down the hall as she recovered and came at him with a guttural cry of anger at how he had managed to do that twice to her now.
Unable to see his pets fight from his position in the lift, Maul exited slowly and observed the pair as Ventress drove Kenobi back with her advancing attacks. He could see exactly what the former Jedi was up to and he had to admire the man's form. His skills had not dulled over the years and he quickly manipulated the situation to his advantage.
The couple continued their dance to the end of the hall where Kenobi, who had been retreating, now took on the offensive that drove Ventress back far enough for him to suddenly twist out and away from her blades and dart through the door. They slid shut behind him and he ran the blade down to fuse the doors. It wouldn't hold the dark duo for long, but he had a slim window to get some distance between himself and his foes.
He heard Assaj's frustration driven scream as her force push against the doors merely buckled the metal. He had disappeared from view by the time she had sliced through the doors.
Maul merely smiled at Kenobi's swift actions. They hadn't surprised him and it was not difficult to discern his unusual force signature as it danced with the excess of force speed through the island.
Maul flipped on his communicator.
"Jango, Kenobi is on his way, you'd better be prepared."
"Yes, Sir," came the stark reply and he closed the link as he moved to the smoldering door.
/Ventress/ called Maul through their link in the force, /stand down./
She growled at his words and continued her pursuit. She could almost taste the Jedi at this point and wasn't about to let her quarry escape.
Maul sensed her defiance and lanced a spike of dark force energy through their link into her mind. She clutched her head, her brain feeling cooked, and she sank to her knees, a cry of pain and frustration echoing down the hallway.
/Do not defy me, Ventress. Break off the pursuit and await my orders. And prey Kenobi doesn't outwit you the next time you meet!/
"Oh, believe me he won't." she said darkly to herself. The man was now only a walking corpse as far as she was concerned, she would just have to educate him of that fact when the time came.