Thank you to the 11 people who reviewed the last chapter, I am glad you liked it including the twist I tossed in there. There is the chapter that will cover the events of "Revival" with a different beginning and I will warn you now, it may seem rushed toward the end of the story as I have to deal with watching the episode on the Internet and it might screw up on me. Hopefully it won't but just a head's up in case it does. I hope you like this chapter and reviews, as always, are much appreciated.
Chapter 48
Jinn slept peacefully in Obi-Wan's arms and he had to smile at the small baby. Only a month had gone by since Obi-Wan and Siri returned to Coruscant with Jinn and Kira and the babies seemed to be getting bigger with each passing day. They were so small and yet their Force presences were just as bright as they were the day they were born.
Reluctantly, Obi-Wan kissed the baby on the forehead before handing him back to Dormé. He repeated the process with Kira before leaving the apartment. He went by at least once a week if not every day to visit his children; Siri did the same. The parents wanted nothing more than to spend every waking minute with their children but their duties to the Jedi Order prevented them from doing that.
It will not be for long, Obi-Wan thought. I will convince them of how powerfully light love is as soon as I figure out what to say.
He shook his head to clear it as he climbed into his speeder and flew back to the Temple. He already knew of what was coming up; Savage Oppress and Darth Maul. He knew that if he didn't stop Maul and Savage on Florrum then not only will Adi Gallia die but so would Satine, Obi-Wan's closest non-Jedi friend.
The first time around, Maul had killed Satine but Obi-Wan was going to make sure that did not happen this time around. He was not going to let Maul and Savage continue their rampage that, if not stopped, would lead to the death of Satine and the chaos that would cover Mandalore's surface. Letting Maul and Savage escape was not something Obi-Wan was going o let happen.
He just hoped he would have the strength to do what he and Adi could not the first time around.
I have the advantage of knowing what is going to happen, Obi-Wan thought. Let's hope that will be enough.
Landing his speeder outside the Temple, Obi-Wan climbed out of it before entering the Temple. He headed toward his apartment but stopped when his apprentice jogged over to join him. "Master, you're back," she said.
"I was only out for maybe half an hour," Obi-Wan said.
"I know, master, but I've been looking for you for the past fifteen minutes. The Council needs to talk with you and it looks urgent."
"Thank you, Jenica." Obi-Wan made his way toward the Council's chamber before entering it once he reached it. The Council members watched as he inclined his head in greeting and sat down in his seat.
"Discovered we have that spreading chaos throughout the Outer Rim Maul and Savage are," Yoda said. "Receiving reports from several planets we are. Time to stop their rampage it is."
"We are still attempting to figure out where they are going to strike next," Mace said. "But we have already decided on who we are going to send after Maul and Savage. Master Kenobi, you and Master Gallia will go after them."
Obi-Wan and Adi nodded.
"When discover where they are heading we do, alert you we will," Yoda said.
Obi-Wan nodded; he already knew of where Maul and Savage were going but he couldn't exactly say that he knew without arousing the suspicions of the entire Council. He would just have to wait until the Council learned of where Maul and Savage were heading; wait and prepare for the eventual confrontation.
Darth Maul Force-pushed the droid to the ground before stabbing it and turned his gaze to the corridor at the droid at the other end of the corridor. The droid hurried forward. "Intruders, you are trespassing on Intergalactic…" the droid began but was silenced within seconds.
Maul made his way into the chamber while Savage took out the remaining droids in the chamber. Savage went onward through the chamber knocking things done, kicking other things before he came upon a safe. He stabbed the safe with his lightsaber and it opened. He then knelt before it before examining the credits.
"Look, Brother, a fortune," he said looking at Maul.
"True fortune will be the demise of Kenobi," Maul said. "Credit chips are meaningless without a plan to survive. The Jedi are hunting us. We will be forced to make a stand."
"And we will deal with them," Savage said determinably.
"They are too many. To continue, we need one singular vision," Maul said walking over to join his brother. "My vision."
"Brother, let us share our strength," Savage said. "There is no need for dominance between us."
"Always two there are, my brother; a master and an apprentice. And you," Maul poked Savage in the shoulder, "are the apprentice." He turned around and walked away a few steps before hearing Savage growl in fury. The other Zabrak then ignited his double-bladed lightsaber, the type of lightsaber that Maul once wielded.
"So, it is time for a lesson," Maul said turning around to face his brother and igniting his lightsaber. Savage attacked but Maul had more experience when it came to lightsaber duels that he was able to defeat his brother quickly.
"You have grown so powerful," Savage said as Maul pinned him to the ground with his foot on his brother's neck and his lightsaber within inches of his brother's face.
"And I shall complete your training," Maul said stepping off his brother before helping him up. "Not as your brother but as your master."
When Obi-Wan and Adi finally received word of where Maul and Savage had recently attacked, it was through the use of a distress signal. Obi-Wan figured that wasn't going to change. Once the Council informed him and Adi of the distress signal, and the fact that they thought Maul and Savage might be behind it, the two Jedi Masters headed out to find that signal.
Adi guided the Jedi shuttle they were in out of hyperspace and Obi-Wan peered at the space station orbiting Cybloc. "Well, this is where the distress signal came from," he said eyeing the station. "The Meridian sector, Cybloc system."
"It is close enough to the earlier attack," Adi said.
"I feel it is them," Obi-Wan said before he guided the shuttle toward the space station.
Once they landed, they met up with Morlimur Snugg and he briefed them on the attack. "All the safes were open. It was done by two cyborgs never seen this side of the Hydian Way," he said.
"They were alone?" Obi-Wan asked observing the damage done by Maul and Savage.
"Yup, yup, what were they?" Snugg asked. "Couple of Jedi gone rogue or something?"
Obi-Wan and Adi exchanged glances before Obi-Wan decided to dispel Snugg's thoughts like last time. "They're not Jedi," he said.
"Do me a favor. Spark up that lightsaber will you?"
Obi-Wan ignited his blade.
"Well, the droids that survived the attack said that theirs were red," Snugg said.
Obi-Wan deactivated his blade before returning it to his belt. "They're Sith. We must find them before they strike again," he said.
"Well, they took my cargo ship," Snugg said. "The droid survivor said it heard something about the Sertar Sector."
Obi-Wan, eyes narrowed thoughtfully, nodded a thanks to Snugg before turning around and walking away hand resting on his beard. Apparently, Maul and Savage were doing the same thing they were the first time around.
"What is in the Sertar Sector?" Adi asked falling into step beside Obi-Wan.
"That's where Florrum is," Obi-Wan said.
"You've been there? What can we expect?"
"Pirates," Obi-Wan said simply.
The cargo ship made its way toward Florrum where a lone starship was flying. The starship flew toward the cargo ship before connecting to it. Savage and Maul made their way into the main hold of the ship before watching as the pirates walked into the ship before they began looking through the items onboard.
"Pure unaltered spices," one pirate said.
"Hondo will be pleased," the lead pirate said. "We will drink tonight. Now find me those life forms."
Maul nodded to Savage and the two of them made their way into the hold before they ignited their lightsabers.
"Jedi," the leader pirate said pointing his blaster at the two Sith who easily blocked the blaster bolts aimed at them. Maul grabbed the lead pirate in a Force choke hold before lifting him off his feet.
"Do you want to live?" he asked the lead pirate coolly.
"Yes," the lead pirate gasped and Maul released him.
Savage walked around them before opening the safe with the credit chips. "We can make you rich," he said as the lead pirate eyed the credit chips greedily.
"Your skills and talents could serve us well," Maul said. "The choice is yours."
"You're hiring us? What kind of Jedi are you?" the lead pirate asked.
"We are not Jedi. We are lords," Maul said. "Crime lords."
"We work for Hondo. You've got to pay us really well in order to get us to betray him."
"Money is no object for men like us," Maul said, "You will have all that you desire and more if you pledge yourselves to me."
"Well all right, I'm tired of working for Hondo anyway," the lead pirate said. "I'll call up a couple of boys and see if they'll join us."
Later that day, more of Hondo's pirates came onboard the cargo ship to meet with Maul and Savage.
"I am certain that Hondo would never ally himself with you," that pirate said.
"Hondo's base will soon be ours," Maul said moving forward. "And he will not survive this unless he embraces the same choice I give you now."
"I'm in," one pirate said.
"So am I," another said.
"I'm not sure," a third said. "Let's see what Hondo says about that."
Hondo Onaka examined the hologram of the red-skinned Zabrak as it appeared before him. The Zabrak spoke almost as soon as his hologram appeared. "Three of your lieutenants have already sworn their allegiance to me," the Zabrak said.
"Traitors," Hondo said. "Scum. I'm so proud but so betrayed."
"There is a penalty for resistance," the Zabrak said walking behind one of Hondo's men and Hondo watched as one of his men was killed by the Zabrak's red lightsaber.
"Let me warn you, you're not the first laser-sword wielding maniac we've had to deal with," Hondo snapped getting to his feet. "And Hondo Onaka survives every time."
"We shall see," the Zabrak replied and Hondo, not liking the sound of that, disconnected the transmission.
Obi-Wan guided the Jedi shuttle out of hyperspace near Florrum while Adi was working with the instruments on the console. "We have a match on the cargo ship," she said looking at Obi-Wan.
"Apparently, Maul and Savage picked up a pirate escort," Obi-Wan said knowing that some had joined Maul and Savage during this skirmish.
"Maybe to unload the stolen cargo," Adi suggested.
"I very much doubt Hondo would have an alliance with Maul and his brother," Obi-Wan said.
"So you know this Hondo personally?" Adi asked sounding a little surprised.
"Yes unfortunately," Obi-Wan replied. "Let's contact him." He placed the call before waiting for Hondo to speak with him.
When the hologram of Hondo Onaka appeared before him, Obi-Wan inclined his head in greeting. "Greetings Hondo," he said.
"Greetings? What kind of menace have you brought to my planet now? First, you lose this system and Grievous comes in and destroys my entire stronghold leaving me here to ravage through the leftovers of my once great Empire. And now these two horned men show up. Who are these horned maniacs? They don't seem like normal Jedi."
"That's because they aren't," Obi-Wan said. "They are Sith. We tracked them here."
Hondo's hologram stood up. "They just threatened to attack with a group of my men," he said starting to pace. "My own men!"
"Yes. We're looking at them now. A cargo ship and three of your starships. They're heading toward you, Hondo," said Obi-Wan watching as the four ships headed toward the planet of Florrum.
"Mote the point, are you going to help me when you get here?" Hondo asked.
"Unfortunately, we can do nothing about your men but we can help with the Sith."
"Good. I'll deal with my men. You deal with those tattooed crazies," Hondo said.
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement and Hondo's hologram disappeared. The Jedi Master closed his eyes before taking a deep, silent breath and reopening his eyes to examine Adi who was guiding the Jedi shuttle toward Florrum. Things will happen differently this time, Obi-Wan thought turning his gaze back to Florrum.
Hondo watched as six of his starships and the cargo ship headed toward the remains of his settlement on Florrum with his Kowakian monkey lizard on his shoulder while every one of the men who stayed with him prepared for the assault. The starships flew over the settlement firing on it before sweeping around for another attack.
"Well, that settles it. Those traitors are no longer my men," Hondo said before he gestured to the men who remained with him. "I want their tongues!"
His men surged forward as the traitors left the cargo ship and the firefight began between Hondo's men and the traitors. Hondo fired on the traitors as well as more entered the fight from within the cargo ship.
"The Jedi, brother, they've found us," Savage said gesturing to the Jedi shuttle as it landed.
"No, it's too soon. I haven't finished my plan yet," Maul growled. "Too soon." He ran towards the Jedi shuttle with Savage just behind him.
Obi-Wan made his way out of the shuttle almost as soon as it finished landing with Adi just behind him. Adi walked to the edge of the precipice to look at the firefight that was going on below while Obi-Wan kept his back to Adi knowing Maul and Savage were going to come up behind them at any moment.
Sure enough, Maul appeared on the stones behind them with Savage at his side. The two Sith ignited their lightsabers while Obi-Wan couldn't resist the jibe he had tossed at Maul and his brother the first time.
"Consorting with pirates now? Oh how the mighty Sith have fallen," he said igniting his lightsaber.
Maul snarled in fury before leaping at Obi-Wan swinging his blade and nearly decapitating Adi had she not ducked out of the way. Obi-Wan caught the swipe before blocking and parrying the next series of blows Maul tossed at him. Maul was pushing him away from Adi, who was now fighting Savage, but Obi-Wan was keeping an eye on her. He was not going to let her die this time around.
Nearing the edge, Obi-Wan took a flying leap that brought him into the valley and Adi followed him. He stayed near Adi as Maul leapt at him slashing downward toward his head; he caught the blow as Savage attacked Adi. The duel continued between the four combatants with neither side getting an advantage over the other.
Maul was pushing Obi-Wan backwards and Obi-Wan dodged the attacks directed t him before leaping upward to land on the remains of one of the ships quickly scanning the area for Adi as Maul leapt up to join him. "Now, I have plans, Kenobi, and you will not stand in my way this time," he snarled.
"I will see to it that your plans fail, Maul, one way or another," Obi-Wan said firmly before he sensed the disturbance. He caught a blow from Maul before watching as a Force push sent Adi flying into the ship stunning her.
No, I will not let this happen again, Obi-Wan thought lashing out in a Force push that sent Maul skidding backwards a few feet before, when Savage ran forward to impale Adi with his horns, he leapt downward. He landed on Savage's back and, to the horror of Maul watching up above, his blade impaled Savage's back. Savage gasped and Adi, clearing her head from the impact with the wall, saw her chance. She ignited her lightsaber before sinking it into Savage's chest.
"No!" Maul screamed as Savage fell motionless to the ground green smoke coiling out of the two wounds in his chest as he drew his last breath.
Maul, screeching in rage, leapt downward and Obi-Wan quickly caught his attack before he was driven backwards. Adi dashed in and thrust her blade toward Maul's side but he dodged out of the way before deactivating his blade. He clipped it to his belt and called his brother's double-bladed lightsaber to his hand before igniting it.
Adi dodged the thrust aimed at her while Obi-Wan slashed toward Maul's side.
"You killed my brother," Maul snarled, "you will pay for that, Kenobi." He attacked viciously pushing both Obi-Wan and Adi backwards.
"Kenobi, this way!" Hondo shouted pointing toward the caves that Obi-Wan remembered from the first time around.
He and Adi exchanged glances, nodded and took off after Hondo with an enraged Maul just after them. The firefight was pushing Hondo and his men backwards. Obi-Wan and Adi, lightsabers blocking the incoming blaster bolts, dashed after Hondo and his fleeing men while Maul dashed toward them through the pirates who sided with him killing anyone who was in his way.
Maul seemed to have noticed that there was no point in chasing Obi-Wan, Adi, Hondo and his men into a place that Hondo likely knew backwards and forwards because he stopped chasing them. Obi-Wan knew that it wouldn't be long before he entered the place but he was going to be ready. Now that Savage was dead, Maul was alone and he knew it.
Obi-Wan and Adi rejoined Hondo and some of his men. Adi frowned. "Where are your other men?" she asked.
"Setting up an ambush," Hondo said. "We could use your help."
"We'll draw the brothers away," Obi-Wan said. "Once we are clear, blow the passageway."
"And leave you alone with the crazies?" Hondo echoed before he thought about it for a moment and added, "Oh, well, okay."
"Let's finish this, Adi," Obi-Wan said turning to look at the Tholothian Jedi.
Adi nodded igniting her lightsaber. "Yes, let's," she said as the voices of Hondo's men and Maul came to the group. Maul, eyes flaring with rage, and the traitors came into the tunnel at that moment.
"Retreat, retreat," Hondo shouted before he took off running and Obi-Wan and Adi dashed after them.
"Do not let them escape!" Maul screamed angrily dashing after the group.
Once they reached an intersection, however, Obi-Wan and Adi dashed one way while Hondo and his men dashed the other. When the traitors ran after Hondo and his men, Hondo shot the passageway down. Maul, not at all fazed by the collapsing tunnel behind him, dashed after the two Jedi.
Hondo continued to fire at the traitors who were once his men as they made their way down the dust-filled passageway. They continued to fire at the traitors as they hurried toward the cannon the others had set up. Once they were within range, Hondo shouted, "now!"
His men charged up the cannon before pointing it at the traitors who immediately drew to a halt and lifted their hands over their heads in surrender.
Obi-Wan and Adi drew to a stop once they were a good distance from Hondo and his man as Maul drew to a stop behind him eyes flaring with rage and lightsaber held at a ready in his hand. Unlike last time, when Maul demanded that Obi-Wan surrender, Obi-Wan decided to say the same thing to him.
"Surrender, Maul, you are outnumbered," he said.
"I will never surrender to you, Jedi!" Maul snarled.
"I beat you once before when you murdered my master, I can beat you again," Obi-Wan stated calmly.
"And now he has me to back him up," Adi said lightsaber in her hand and ignited.
Maul snarled before leaping at them and his double-bladed lightsaber slammed into Obi-Wan and Adi's blades and thus the fight began.
Hondo watched as the traitors put their weapons on the ground before he walked among them. "Are you still willing to fight me?" he asked. "The horned man who remains is not interested in you. He is only interested in Kenobi." He put an arm around one of the traitor's shoulders but he could see that his words got through to his men.
"They promised us wealth and power, boss," one of the traitors said. "Please forgive us, please. Don't kill us. We beg of you."
Hondo gestured for the men who stayed with him to stand down. "Kill you? I would not kill you," he said. "Everyone, the horned men's ship is filled with valuable goods. As your restored leader, I say we celebrate our reunification. To the landing pad."
Everyone cheered before following Hondo as he led the way out of the tunnels.
Obi-Wan blocked the swipe aimed at his head while Adi's thrust was caught and she was sent flying backwards with a Force-push. Adi pushed herself to her feet before leaping forward slashing toward Maul's side but Maul dodged the blow before catching the thrust Obi-Wan aimed at his side.
He then lashed out in another Force push that sent Obi-Wan and Adi flying backwards again. Adi slammed into the tunnel wall and Obi-Wan slammed into Adi. They fell to the ground but Obi-Wan got back to his feet in time to block the next blow aimed at him.
Maul stretched out a hand and Adi, who had been getting to her feet behind Obi-Wan, gasped clawing at her throat as she was caught in a Force choke hold. He then tossed her and she went sailing into the wall where she crashed and fell to the ground unconscious.
Obi-Wan, gritting his teeth, called Adi's lightsaber to his hand before igniting it and catching the next attack Maul launched at him. His lightsabers and Maul's double-bladed lightsaber were caught in a deadly dance neither combatant getting the advantage.
Maul knew it. Snarling, he lashed out with the Force and Obi-Wan was sent flying into the wall next to Adi while Maul pulled down the roof of the tunnel.
Obi-Wan, rubbing his head, pushed himself to his feet before helping a semi-conscious Adi up. "We can't let him get away," he said handing Adi back her lightsaber.
"Yes. He would wreck havoc on the galaxy," she agreed and the two of them dashed down the nearest passageway they could find.
They dashed out into the open just in time to see Maul running toward his ship with Hondo and his men firing at him. The Zabrak Sith was deflecting the blaster bolts back at the pirates as he ran. Obi-Wan dashed forward and, taking a flying leap over the group of pirates, he nearly landed a downward slash on Maul's head had he not sensed it coming and dodged out of the way.
"There is no escape, Maul," he called as Adi dashed through the pirates to approach Maul from behind and the pirates ranged out between the two Jedi. Hondo glanced at Obi-Wan whose blade was pointed at Maul before he gestured for his men to cease firing.
"Let's see if the Jedi can handle this themselves," he called to his men.
Maul, seeing as he was cut off from his ship, saw that he had no choice. He dashed toward Obi-Wan with a slash aimed at Obi-Wan's thigh but Obi-Wan dodged it and Adi came in to land a blow against Maul's side. Maul snarled in pain before whirling around to block Adi's next attack giving Obi-Wan an opening. He leapt forward thrusting his blade toward Maul's back but Maul, sensing it, twisted just enough that the lightsaber sank into his shoulder instead.
He whirled around again to block the slash that would have decapitated him before turning enough to block Adi's attack. Adi's blade blocked Maul's attacks and, using this distraction, Obi-Wan dashed toward him before slicing toward Maul's mechanical leg. Maul shouted in pain as the blade sliced through his leg.
Obi-Wan lashed out with a Force push that sent Maul flying to the ground before his blade slammed into Maul's chest. Maul stared up at Obi-Wan eyes wide with shock, anger and hatred. Obi-Wan removed the blade as Maul's body went still and his eyes dimmed as the life left him. He stood up exhausted as Adi walked to his side.
"He was too dangerous to be kept alive," she said.
"I know," Obi-Wan replied turning away from Maul's body before joining Hondo whose men were already raiding Maul's ship.
"Looks like you dealt with those crazies," Hondo said. "And we've got plenty of riches. It was a win-win situation eh?"
Obi-Wan glanced briefly at Adi before nodding. "I suppose so," he said.
Obi-Wan and Adi remained on Florrum for a while longer just to make sure there was no way for Maul to come back from the dead again. Once that was taken care of, they left the planet and headed back to Coruscant.
"So Darth Maul and Savage Oppress are dead?" Mace asked a few days later as Obi-Wan and Adi stood before the Council and gave their reports on what occurred on Florrum.
"Yes, Adi and I made sure of it before we left," Obi-Wan said. "We will not have to worry about them anymore."
"A good thing that is," Yoda said. "Hopefully, the last hidden threat against the Order Darth Maul and Savage Oppress were."
"Yes, hopefully," Obi-Wan agreed even though he knew it was not true. There was one more hidden threat against the Jedi Order and that was one threat that would have to be revealed in its own time. But Obi-Wan will make sure that the actual last hidden threat did not win as he did the first time around.
Darth Maul may be dead but Darth Sidious, the man who would cause the future Obi-Wan came from, was still alive and Obi-Wan knew that the Jedi Order would remain in peril until Sidious was dealt with once and for all.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: and now you know why I can't do "Eminence", "Shades of Reason" or "The Lawless". Mauly and Savagey died! (Does happy dance)
Darth: (also does happy dance)
Maul: You will not get away with this!
Blaze: uh I think I already did. (Rolls eyes) Sith are so stupid sometimes. Ha, alliteration
Anakin: you really get a kick out of using alliteration, don't you?
Blaze: yup
Obi-Wan: (looks at Maul and pushes him into a Sarlaac Pit)
Maul: AHH! (Gets eaten by Sarlaac)
Palpypie: well, at least it wasn't me
Obi-Wan: (proceeds to push Palpypie into a lava pit)
Palpypie's Ghost: why did I have to say something?!
Obi-Wan: I agree with Blaze, Sith really are stupid
Darth: you just figured that out?
Palpypie's Ghost: that's mean!
Blaze: (chuckles) and that was the last The Clone Wars TV series episode I am doing. As I stated before, and will state again, the Ahsoka/Barriss arc of season 5 will NOT occur in this universe. I repeat, it will NOT occur in this universe.
Darth: and?
Blaze: and the next chapter will cover the beginning of the Labyrinth of Evil arc with, maybe, some information on what occurred after "Revival" to when Labyrinth of Evil began. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter and reviews, as always, are much appreciated.