AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Sorry guys, this is just...AAAAAAHHHH!
Obi-Wan is so freaking amazing in this episode! IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE CLONE WARS I HIGHLY, HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT AFTER YOU READ THIS CHAPTER YOU WATCH THE OBI-WAN MAUL SAVAGE FIGHT FROM THIS EPISODE BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST AWESOME AND MOST KICKBUTT THAT OBI-WAN HAS EVER BEEN. REMEMBER, OBI-WAN, MAUL, AND SAVAGE THE REVIVAL FIGHT-IT'S EPIC!
I'm so excited we've gotten to the chunks of the Clone Wars I've been DYING to write, things are getting thicker and darker and the galaxy more dangerous and the stakes higher and arg, I'm just loving this so much I think this is the only story I'm going to be writing for a while cause I'm just so hyped!
PLEASE REVIEW GUYS! PLEASE!
Enjoy!
"Zelina, you could have died!"
Zelina sighed as Anakin grilled her for what felt like the thousandth time in her young life, shaking her head.
"Anakin, I'm fine, and I feel like Obi-Wan would have been worse off if I hadn't been there."
She was out of the med ward now, and, as soon as he had enough of a break to come back from the frontlines, Anakin had visited her in her Temple quarters to tell her just how stupid she really was for running off to a fight with Maul that was obviously a trap for Obi-Wan.
Regardless if it was something Anakin himself would have done as well.
"No, Zelina, it is not okay! You were still recovering! Did you stop to think of what would happen if you did die? What that would do to Obi-Wan? To me?" Anakin said fervently, coming forward and grasping her arms in a surprisingly tight grip. His gaze was intense, and it almost caused Zelina to shrivel in shame.
Almost.
War had…well…changed her. Once Anakin's words would have pierced her deeply. Now…
"I thought of what would happen to Obi-Wan if he did go alone—I arrived to see Maul and Savage Oppress hovering over his unconscious body, Anakin. Who knows what they would have done to him in the back of that ship. I will not be ashamed for doing what I think is right even if my own life was at risk. He's a brother to me—like he is to you. I wasn't going to let him head to Maul on his own, and I won't in the future either," Zelina said sharply, a fire in her eyes that rivaled Anakin's.
"Next time?" Anakin asked in a low voice, his grip unrelenting.
"I told Obi-Wan we're together in this Maul business no matter what he says, and he agreed. Wherever he goes hunting for Maul, I'll be right there beside him," Zelina said firmly.
"Zelina, this is Darth Maul we're talking about, not Dooku or Ventress or Grievous! Maul!"
"I know very well who it is, Anakin! I remember what he did to Obi-Wan! And in case you don't remember, I was there too!" Zelina snapped, shrugging Anakin's ironclad grip off. "I've already had this argument with Obi-Wan and I have no problem having it with you! I'm not a child anymore, I can take care of myself, you don't have to coddle me. And if I want to take a risk for someone I care about I can do so just as much as you and Obi-Wan do! I may be the youngest, but I'm just as capable! I thought you of all people would take my side in this, that you knew I could take care of myself, that you would be glad I went to back Obi-Wan up instead of sitting idly by as he marched off to a trap set by Maul."
Anakin huffed. "I was thinking of how I almost lost both of my closest friends at once—one of them someone who's already promised to be a teacher for my son. You and Obi-Wan are family, Zelina…I don't want to risk either of you!"
That one softened Zelina, and she sighed, shaking her head. "I know you don't, Ani…I don't want to lose you or Obi-Wan either, but we're in a war, and we're going to be risked—that's just how it is. We just have to try our hardest not to get killed. Just because we risk our lives for someone else, doesn't mean we're not going to fight tooth and nail for our own lives at the same time. Besides, if the Force really has a plan for me, it's not just going to let me die because of stupidity on my part."
Anakin shook his head, already disagreeing with her. "Not necessarily. You've forgotten your own vision, Zelina. One of the first things Luke told you was that while you could be so many things to him…depending on our choices…you also could not be there at all. And considering you're my best friend…the only way I see you not being in my son's life is if you died," Anakin whispered. "And that…that is what has me so scared for you, Zee…knowing that you very well could die at any point, and I'd be powerless to stop it."
"That's not true, Anakin. Luke did say our choices, not just mine. I'm sure you'd be able to do something," Zelina said, disconcerted by the current track of the conversation.
Anakin looked away. "Speaking of things Luke's said…when you were sick, you mentioned him amidst your, well, ramblings. You had another vision of him, didn't you?"
Zelina looked away, unsure if she wanted to answer him in this case. "I don't think it's something we should talk about. Not in this case anyway."
Anakin arched an eyebrow, folding his arms over his chest. "Not in this case? Don't you think I have a right to know?"
"If you were meant to know everything he tells me you'd be getting these visions too," Zelina said calmly. "Besides, this time…it was directed to me alone. It was all meant only for me…"
Anakin shook his head. "Zee, please, this is my son we're talking about—did he come with more warnings? Are things getting better?"
"Anakin, all you have to do is feel the state of the Force in the galaxy to know things are not getting better."
"I mean for him—from his past warnings, he always spoke so…well, you said yourself he looks like he's been through far too much for someone his age," Anakin fretted.
"Anakin…" Zelina said seriously. "The warnings were meant for me, and me alone. Two have already happened, and the third…wasn't really a warning, at least not a clear one. The best I can do is ask that you trust me and don't try to do anything stupid, please? Just leave this one be."
"Since when did you of all people start keeping secrets from me, Zelina?" Anakin asked flatly, and Zelina winced.
Well, if you want to get technical…
"Anakin, it's not like that. If I have a vision that I think it's something you need to hear I'll tell you. But this one was personal, aimed at me…and I'd rather not share," Zelina said softly.
"He's my son, Zelina, I have the right to know!" Anakin said angrily, and Zelina's eyes flashed. Anakin wasn't going to let this go.
"Ok, fine—he came to warn me about the darkness in the galaxy getting worse, about Maul returning, about the dark side in you getting stronger, and he was terrified. Terrified of what was going to happen to him if the darkness in the galaxy kept getting stronger, if the dark side in you kept getting stronger. He came to plead with me to keep him safe, to see if I was prepared to handle everything coming, if I could protect him. That was my vision in a nutshell."
Anakin stared at her in shock. "Why did you think keeping this from me was a good idea?" Anakin eventually asked quietly.
"Because I knew you'd react badly, and the majority of it was directed specifically at me. And the warning about you is tale as old as time, Anakin, I've had that warning practically as long as I've had the visions. And don't try to deny it because I've seen it several times and called you out on it before. What did pertain to you was nothing new, and the rest was for me."
Zelina could tell he was upset—why would he not be? Still, she hoped he saw her reasoning.
Anakin shook his head, turning to leave. "It's just an excuse, Zelina. You should have told me, I had a right to know."
"This is the first time I've seen you since I got better!" Zelina said in exasperation.
"But you've made it clear you weren't going to tell me at all."
Zelina bit her lip, stepping up to him and grabbing his arm. "Ani…I'm not trying to break your trust, it's something I treasure. This galaxy is getting worse every day and I just…I know things are hard enough as is. It's my job to figure out what the visions mean, and right now I've only made sense of part because it's already happened. Yes, he's your son and you have every right to know, but I also have the right to wait until the meaning of the vision is clear to me to tell you. I'm sorry I was going to keep it from you, but my intent was never to break your trust. You know I'd do anything for you. Please Anakin, I'm doing the best that I can when I'm stumbling in the dark."
Anakin turned, looking at her penitent features and sighing softly, relenting at least slightly. "Don't think I'm not still upset with you, Zee…but I do know you're trying…and you have my trust still. Just give me some time to cope, okay?"
Zelina nodded letting go so he could leave. "Of course, Ani…whatever you need."
"The distress signal is coming from here."
Zelina made her way to the front of the ship where Obi-Wan and Adi Gallia were currently piloting them towards the scene of the most recent—possible—attack by Maul and his brother. Zelina came up behind them, putting a hand on the back of both chairs.
"The Viridian sector?" she asked as she caught sight of where they were on the map display. Obi-Wan nodded in confirmation.
"A cyborg system."
"It is close enough to the earlier attack," Master Gallia said thoughtfully as they guided the ship closer.
"I have the feeling it's them," Obi-Wan said with a nod, pushing the ship towards the station that was gradually looming before them.
True to his word, Obi-Wan had informed Zelina of all the developments in the hunt for Maul, and she had nearly been his constant companion as they sought out the Zabrak Sith. She did have to leave once to deal with a skirmish with the Seperatists on one of the Outer Rim planets, but other than that she and Obi-Wan were the two constantly searching for Maul. Master Gallia was to assist them on this particular mission, as they were getting much closer to Maul and Savage. Close enough that the Council thought it may be wise to send another Master to help ensure Maul's capture—or eradication.
Zelina shook herself from her thoughts as they boarded the station, letting the owner—a short, skinny being with a pig head—lead them to the room where the crime had taken place. Droids littered the halls on the way there, but Zelina didn't pay them much mind. The first one alone had shown signs of a lightsaber, not a blaster, so she was already with Obi-Wan that this had indeed been Maul and Savage.
"The chips were all unlocked, no way of tracing them," the owner said, gesturing to where the vault had sat before it was stolen. "All done by the two…crabbiest Zabraks this side of the Hydian."
"They were alone?" Obi-Wan asked, turning to face the owner.
"Yup, yup…what were they, a couple of Jedi gone rogue?" the owner asked, scratching his head.
"They're not Jedi," Zelina said easily almost as soon as he'd finished speaking.
"Hmm…do me a favor, spark up that lightsaber would you?" the owner asked, gesturing for someone to do so. Zelina let Obi-Wan ignite his since he was already moving and had the more common blue color. "Mhm, well the droids that got attacked said that theirs were red."
"It's them," Zelina said, standing at alert as Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber.
"They are Sith, and we need to find them before they strike again," Obi-Wan said seriously, stepping forward once more, with Master Gallia and Zelina flanking him.
"Well, they took my cargo ship," the owner said with a shake of his head. "The droid survivor said they heard something about the Sertar Sector."
Zelina's eyes went wide while Obi-Wan turned away slowly, stroking his beard in thought as he moved a few paces away. "You've got to be kidding me…" she said, turning back to Obi-Wan. Master Gallia came even with him.
"What is in the Sertar Sector?" she asked. The two started to make their way for the exit, and Zelina hurried to come even with them.
"That's where Florrum is," Obi-Wan said simply in reply.
"You've been there?" Master Gallia asked them, glancing between the two. "What can we expect?"
"Pirates," Obi-Wan replied, keeping to the simple answers.
"Hondo Onaka," Zelina said with a sigh.
How wonderful this trip was turning out to be.
When they reached Florrum, the first thing Zelina noticed was that there were four ships just hovering above the system, three of them the ships that the pirates here used, and one…one a cargo ship matching the description of the one stolen.
"That would be them," Zelina said in a low tone.
"It would seem Maul and Savage have picked up a pirate escort," Obi-Wan noted.
"I don't know…Hondo doesn't seem like the type to play well with others…at least not someone who would want to be the one in charge, like Maul," Zelina commented.
"So you know this Hondo personally?" Master Gallia asked.
"Unfortunately, yes…" Obi-Wan replied.
"Why don't we try to contact Hondo and see what's going on—I'm sure he can shed some amount of light on the subject," Zelina suggested.
"We might as well—it would be better than walking in blind," Obi-Wan admitted, already moving to the communications console.
A pirate other than Hondo appeared. "Who is this?"
"I would like to speak with Hondo Onaka—tell him it's Kenobi. He'll know who I am," Obi-Wan said, and the pirate grumbled before disappearing.
"So long as he doesn't try to ransom us again, I won't mind seeing him," Zelina said with a sigh. Obi-Wan looked like he was about to respond with something witty, but Hondo appeared in that moment, and Obi-Wan's attention was directed elsewhere.
"Greetings, Hondo," Obi-Wan said mildly.
"Greetings?" Hondo asked incredulously, sitting up straight in his chair. "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 just rummage through the leftovers of my once great empire! And now, these two horned men show up. Who are these horny-headed maniacs? They don't seem like normal Jedi."
"Not Jedi, Hondo, Sith," Obi-Wan said flatly. "We tracked them here."
"They just threatened to attack with a group of my men—my own men!"
"Apparently there isn't honor among thieves," Zelina muttered out of Hondo's hearing, though Obi-Wan's reply was much more civil.
"Yes, we are looking at them right now. A cargo vessel and three of your starships. They are heading towards you, Hondo," Obi-Wan stated seriously.
"At-ta-da-da-da, more to the point, are you going to help me when you get here?" Hondo asked shortly.
"There's nothing we can do about your men, but we can certainly do something about the Sith," Obi-Wan said firmly.
"Good. I'll deal with my men, you deal with those tattooed crazies."
"Right."
As soon as Hondo was gone, Zelina shook her head. "This is going to be interesting—you know there's going to be a firefight. It makes me wish I had Cruiser here…or maybe Keeneye…or Nex… …Gambit…Dash…"
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "We get the idea, Zelina."
"I'll go get myself ready then," Zelina said sheepishly, slinking back out of the cockpit to sit down and check her lightsabers. Once she was sure both were fully operational, her hand ghosted to the necklace still placed carefully around her neck after all this time.
"Please let us get them this time…let us end this before it goes any further," Zelina murmured softly, letting her hand drop away as she felt the ship settle. She could hear the sounds of battle outside, and she rose to her feet, both lightsabers in hand. Obi-Wan and Master Gallia appeared from the cockpit, lowering the ramp on their way out.
"Even when we're doing solo work we find ourselves in the thick of battle, isn't that right, Obi-Wan?" Zelina asked with a smirk as she descended the ramp.
"It is a war, Zelina," Obi-Wan quipped.
"Yes…though this one is on a…personal front," Zelina murmured, igniting her lightsabers with determination glinting in her eyes. All three of them rushed to the cliff's face, looking down into the small gorge where the pirates had their headquarters and looking over the chaos of the battle for the Sith.
It would appear they didn't need to seek out Maul and Savage, as Zelina felt the two dark presences coming up behind them, turning with Obi-Wan and Master Gallia as Maul and Savage appeared.
"Throwing in with pirates now?" Obi-Wan asked as everyone ignited their lightsabers. "Oh how the mighty Sith have fallen…"
Maul growled low in his throat, launching himself forward and engaging Obi-Wan instantly in a flurry of blades, even lashing out at Master Gallia at one point, though the woman easily deflected the move.
Zelina, however, was more focused on the massive Savage, knowing that he would be the one that they would have to double team.
And considering Obi-Wan was already fighting Maul, she knew her partner would be Master Gallia.
The two girls rushed to engage the towering Zabrak monster, Zelina taking one side of his lightsaber while Master Gallia took the other. Zelina and Master Gallia went back and forth with Savage, working to match his sheer brutality and raw strength. At one point, he caught them both on his blades, pushing them to the edge of the cliff so they jumped down to the next cliff face. Obi-Wan jumped down with them, and the two Sith followed close behind.
Much to Zelina's discomfort, the fight she and Master Gallia were having with Savage reminded her of the fight between Maul, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon so long ago on Naboo…but she tried to push those disturbing thoughts aside as she blocked one of Savage's attacks from getting through to Master Gallia. Just as quickly as they could lunge at Savage, Savage could swing his double bladed lightsaber to where it needed to be so he could block both Jedi.
Maul had been teaching him.
Zelina glanced back just long enough to register that Obi-Wan was fighting Maul atop one of the crashed starships nearby before she snapped back to attention at the sound of Savage destroying the canopy they had been under seconds ago. Master Gallia's foot shot out to try and get Savage's knee to buckle, but apparently it was like kicking a wall, because she ended up stuck in that position.
Zelina batted aside Savage's lightsaber so he wouldn't try to finish her off, though as his lightsaber swung with the hit and smashed into her crossed lightsabers, Zelina was forced to retreat a few steps with Master Gallia. Suddenly, Savage withdrew his attack, and his sudden use of Force Abilities threw both of them off, making them vulnerable.
All the times Zelina had seen Savage he was all about brute strength. She hadn't expected him to throw them through the air with a Force Push.
Master Gallia and Zelina both slammed into another starship side by side, dazed from the impact and the suddenness of it all.
The Force screamed danger at her, even as she faintly realized Savage was charging head down towards them, lightsaber aligned with Zelina, horned head aligned with Master Gallia…
A warm light washed over her, and it felt like someone was there with her, right behind her…someone wound their fingers together and raised their hands in a cupped shield…she felt stronger…her focus sharpened…but it wasn't just her…
"Fight—I need you to fight, even if I have to be here every step of the way," came a certain Skywalker's voice, right in her ear as she felt herself subconsciously focus her Force abilities with Luke's assistance and guidance.
"Don't leave…" Zelina whispered.
"I've never left."
All of this happened in the space of a few seconds, and Zelina came back to awareness—again, with assistance—in time to see Savage ram his horns through Adi Gallia, his lightsaber blade smashing into her cupped hands.
"No!" she heard Obi-Wan scream from up above.
Of course, normally, the lightsaber would pierce right through her hands and impale her—she'd be dead.
But that wasn't what happened.
Zelina jerked in shock as she felt Master Gallia die right next to her, staring numbly at her hands, still intertwined with Luke's…
…and absorbing Savage's lightsaber in a rare display of skilled tutaminis so that it didn't harm her in the slightest.
Savage roared in frustration, huge muscles bulging as he shoved as hard as he could with his lightsaber to break her concentration or force his way through her tutaminis to kill her. Luke's grip tightened on her hand, and Zelina felt a charge in her strength, enough to hold firm against the assault, practically standing toe to toe with Savage now with the Jedi only she could see at her back.
In a rare display of fury, Zelina saw Obi-Wan fly down from above, kicking Savage to the ground in one powerful blow, releasing Zelina from the lock she'd been in and allowing her to stop putting so much energy into the Force Ability. Zelina slumped into Luke—against the Starfighter to everyone else's eyes—and felt his arms encircle her to hold her up while she regathered herself.
"He needs your help—hurry, get up!" Luke told her gently, helping her stand up straight.
Zelina took a deep breath, gathering herself and calling her lightsabers back into her hands through the Force in time to see Maul barely get to Savage in time to stop Obi-Wan from killing him in one blow, the red blade the only thing between Obi-Wan's blue blade and Savage's chest. Maul pushed Obi-Wan back, pitting Obi-Wan against three lightsabers now as he was rapidly pushed back to where Zelina stood.
Zelina ignited her lightsabers, leaping forward to Obi-Wan's side. Obi-Wan did just fine on his own, but at the same time, they could quickly push him back. Hence the fact she didn't hesitate to jump in.
Sliding under Maul's and Obi-Wan's crossed blades, Zelina snapped up to engage Savage, putting one lightsaber against each end of Savage's double bladed lightsaber and pushing him back away from Obi-Wan to give Obi-Wan the breathing room. However, that was the best she could do, as now Savage was able to focus on her and her alone, pushing her back just as quickly as Maul was pushing back Obi-Wan, the group moving up and onto the starcraft wreckage where Obi-Wan and Maul had been fighting moments before.
"Kenobi! Du'ahn! This way!" Hondo's voice suddenly shouted. Zelina didn't look, so preoccupied she was with Savage, though she did see Master Gallia's lightsaber fly through the air towards Obi-Wan and felt him gathering his Force Abilities. Zelina shoved Savage back as hard as she could, adding a bit of a Force Push to make sure he was pushed back. As soon as she had the chance she backed away, spinning around and propelling herself off of the starcraft with the Force, right behind Obi-Wan as they sailed through the air towards the entrance to the pirate stronghold, landing just short.
Zelina and Obi-Wan both had to deflect the barrage of blaster fire from the rogue pirates as soon as they were on the ground, quickly backing up to the entrance before they were able to turn and run inside.
"Are you okay?" Obi-Wan asked her, eyes bright with worry.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I was just dazed for a few moments."
Obi-Wan obviously wanted to say more, but they rounded the corner, coming face to face with Hondo and his men once more. There were…less of them than Zelina expected.
"Where are the rest of your men?" Obi-Wan asked.
"They are setting up an ambush, we can use your help. Where is the other Jedi?" Hondo asked.
"She's…she's dead…" Obi-wan said haltingly, pain evident enough in his voice Zelina put a hand on his shoulder.
"She's d…" Hondo exclaimed in shock, eyes wide as his voice trailed off. "They are too powerful for even you! I am…semi-speechless."
Voices floated down the hall towards them, and everyone tensed, Zelina and Obi-Wan whipping around to ignite their lightsabers while all the pirates aimed their guns. Obi-Wan turned back to the pirates.
"We'll draw the brothers away. Once that's done, blast the passageway closed," he said firmly.
"And leave you and the little lady alone with the two crazies?" Hondo asked incredulously. He stopped mid thought, suddenly smiling. "Well, okay."
How noble, Zelina thought as she turned back with Obi-Wan just in time to see Maul and Savage turn the corner. Zelina clutched at the necklace under her tunic once more, her mind cast to Luke.
"Stay with me just a little longer," she murmured, knowing she and Obi-Wan would need all the help they could get.
"Retreat! Retreat!" Hondo shouted and, for the sake of getting their plan to work and finding a more favorable hallway for a fight, Obi-Wan and Zelina turned to run with them.
"Do not let them escape!" Zelina heard Maul snarl, turning left with Obi-Wan once they reached the end of the current hall. Predictably, Maul and Savage followed Obi-Wan and Zelina, and as soon as they were past the intersection shots rang out, and a section of the tunnel behind them started to collapse.
Obi-Wan and Zelina kept running, feeling the two Sith coming up fast behind them. Zelina's heart was pounding as she thought of how they were going to be forced to fight these two in such tight quarters.
Either they'd find a way to bend it to their advantage, or this plan would quickly become the makings of a bloodbath.
Don't think like that…fight, and don't give up. If you need help, you'll have it, Zelina reprimanded herself. The hall in front of them widened and Obi-Wan skid to a halt, turning to face Maul and Savage. Zelina did the same a pace or two behind him, holding both lightsabers tight in her hands.
"Surrender," Maul snarled. "We are two, and you are no match for us both."
Zelina stood straighter, igniting both of her blades as Obi-Wan crouched much like a cat about to spring and unleash its full prowess. "You are mistaken," Obi-Wan threatened, pulling out Adi Gallia's lightsaber as well so he wielded two blades as Zelina did. Maul's face twisted into a sneer, holding his single lightsaber in front of him while Savage raised his double bladed lightsaber high in the air, ready to let it cause chaos.
Admittedly, in that moment, Obi-Wan looked more terrifying than Anakin.
Both Sith charged them, with Maul putting all of his strength in the downwards blow he dealt with his blade as Savage rushed in to get Obi-Wan and Zelina at the same time. Zelina coiled much as Obi-Wan in that moment, springing up against the wall and propelling herself forward towards Savage, forcing him to halt so he could block her propelled movement and toss Zelina aside, though Zelina cushioned the blow to the wall with the Force, having expected it. As she rolled to the ground she used her momentum to get back on her feet, springing up and coming at Maul from behind, which forced Maul to engage her so Obi-Wan could spend some time with Savage.
It was his turn to battle the monster for a bit. Zelina had yet to face off with Maul, truly.
Maul sped up his movements when Zelina attacked him, having caught on by now that Zelina could come in with attacks from different sides, forcing her opponents to either be injured or move quickly. He batted aside one blade and in the next second had blocked and pushed away the other, engaging in this back and forth for a few seconds before his new robotic legs came into play, one clawed foot grabbing one of her arms and halting it in place. Maul drilled his lightsaber towards her chest, but Zelina managed to hold it off, even if the blade she was using to do so was her green shoto blade. Maul put pressure on her arm with his clawed feet, convincing her that he was about to shatter the bones in her arm.
Gritting her teeth, Zelina shoved his blade aside and lunged into his defenses, gashing him deep along the cheek.
That was going to leave either a terrible deformity or an ugly scar.
Maul roared in anger, using his robotic clawed leg that still held her arm to throw her down the length of the hall, right over Obi-Wan's head. She managed to twist so that she didn't severely injure herself when she landed, but it still hurt.
Zelina rose to her feet again the next moment, lunging at Obi-Wan as a signal for him to take Maul back. Zelina's arm burned, in agonizing pain, but she did her best to swallow that pain and hold firm against Savage's brutal attacks. The sleeve of her tunic was in tatters, showing the ugly wound Maul's unrelenting grip had left—those talons were sharp—and she knew that if she didn't end this fight quickly, then Savage would take advantage of the weakness.
Picking up where Obi-Wan had left off, Zelina pushed off of one foot to launch herself into the air, using her blades to keep Savage's lightsaber from trying to cut her in half while her foot snapped out to deal a heavy blow to Savage's leg. It didn't give out, but she knew he was getting there. If they hit it enough times…
Landing nimbly on the other side of Savage, Zelina and Obi-Wan found themselves back to back, and they both shifted into a crouch, launching themselves sideways at each other's attackers from below. Zelina went down and came up at Maul from the right, pushing forwards, while Obi-Wan swept around to the left and came up at Savage, that sweeping kick hitting the same spot Zelina had. His knee gave slightly, but not enough to put him out of commission.
Zelina came up with her blades in an X to stop Maul's descending blade, shifting to keep it caught on her shoto blade while her violate blade swung around to do some damage. Maul disengaged and backed away, spinning around to try and attack Obi-Wan who—without even trying—held Savage off with one lightsaber while using the other to block Maul's attack.
Obi-Wan didn't even look.
Taking another shot at Savage's leg, and causing him to give a little more, Obi-Wan pushed the yellow and black Zabrak away and bore down on Maul with a fury, allowing Zelina to nimbly jump against the wall and propel herself at Savage once more. This time the Zabrak was a little more prepared, and he caught Zelina by the throat when she came at him. Panic attack or not, Zelina stopped his blade with both of hers, focusing through the Force to heat up her skin as she had once done with Krell to force Savage to drop her. He did, and she landed in a crouch, taking the time to kick at his weakening leg. However, now Savage was furious, and he came down swiftly with his lightsaber, forcing her to jump to the side to avoid the blade.
Before she even hit the ground, time slowed, and distinctly, Zelina heard Luke's voice shout, "No!" instead of Obi-Wan. Someone shoved her hard enough to roll her on the side, and Zelina felt a lightsaber across her back, causing her to gasp in pain. It was Maul's blade that had burned her, just as, now, it was Maul who grabbed her by the throat with one of his talon feet and threw her towards Savage, who was ready with lightsaber poised perfectly to slice her in half. Zelina tried to twist out of the way as everything went slowly for her, but she just…couldn't…
There was a rush in the Force from…Obi-Wan, maybe…and Zelina saw her course shift just enough that she missed Savage's awaiting blade, but still the monster's arm snapped up to grab her, using her momentum to slam her hard against the wall. Something pierced skin, something cold and metal…somewhere near her right shoulder, pinning her to the wall, and she distantly heard herself scream in pain.
"Don't freeze!" she heard Luke's voice say as her mind threatened to blank on her from pain and shock. "Don't freeze, fight back! Don't die on me!"
With great effort, Zelina raised the shoto blade in her left hand, blocking Savage's lightsaber and painfully pulling her shoulder free from the wall even though it caused her unbearable agony to do so. Once that shoulder was free, Zelina pushed forward with her right arm and the Force, sending Savage sailing backwards, right to where…
Force…
Zelina hadn't seen what was happening with Obi-Wan.
He must have been the one who shifted her course with Savage, because something had distracted him and given Maul the opportunity to put him in a Force Choke and throw him against the other wall, causing him to slump much as Zelina was slumping to the floor now. However, Obi-Wan still had everything in perfect working order, igniting both lightsabers as the pair tried to descend on him at once. He held the brothers off, pushing back even as Savage and Maul increased their pressure, Obi-Wan's own blades inches from his face. Zelina pushed herself to her feet, breathing heavily, trying to get enough of her wits to actually be of use.
Finally, Obi-Wan pressed the advantage they'd been trying to make the entire fight, his leg snapping out with some Force assistance so that there was a satisfying snap and Savage went down with a shout of pain, his leg possibly breaking. The hold the brothers had on Obi-Wan broken, Obi-Wan slid under their blades masterfully, raising his own just enough that, though Maul was able to back away in time, Obi-Wan cut off Savage's left arm. Obi-Wan backed up enough to cover Zelina in case someone tried to attack her, though that point became moot with what Maul did next.
"Savage!" Maul shouted, turning a murderous gaze onto Obi-Wan, who looked back at the Sith with just as much murderous intent. Instead of fighting him, however, Maul called on the Force and sent a powerful gust of wind through the tunnel, powerful enough to send them both sailing through the air to the far end of the tunnel. Obi-Wan hit the wall with a grunt of pain, Zelina with more of a cry of pain, and they both collapsed to the ground, the tunnel between them and the two brothers collapsing. Obi-Wan gasped in pain again beside her, rubbing his head and already rising to his feet.
"Can you stand?" he asked shortly.
"He got my shoulder, not my leg," Zelina grunted, rising to her feet just slightly unsteadily before she called her lightsabers to her again. "Go! He'll get away if we don't go now!"
Obi-Wan didn't argue, and the two of them bolted down the hall to find a way out before Maul and Savage did.
As they reached the exit, blaster fire could be heard, and Zelina quickened her pace, though the blood loss was starting to get to her.
They're just outside, slowed down by the pirates…we can get them…
Zelina and Obi-wan burst outside in time to see one of Hondo's men score a perfect hit on Maul's leg, a hit that severed everything below the knee on his left leg entirely. Maul screamed in fury—not pain, though obviously it had to hurt—and Savage came up behind him, making up for Maul's now lost leg. As if knowing if he didn't do something he would be caught and it would be over, Maul reached up and grabbed the ship Zelina, Obi-Wan, and Master Gallia had arrived on and dragged it off the cliff to crash behind them, slowing them down just long enough.
Zelina and Obi-Wan climbed up the ship with Hondo's men, though Zelina was slightly slower than normal due to her shoulder injury and growing wooziness, coming over the ship to see that the landing ramp was already closed, see it start to lift off of the ground…
Hondo turned to his men, making one simple gesture that cued a pirate with a missile launcher to come forward and blast one of their engines, which immediately was destroyed, causing the ship to leave a trail of black smoke. Everyone simply stood and watched as the ship suddenly started to drop from the sky quite far away, headed for a massive explosion.
"Well, Kenobi, Du'ahn—let's get out there and see what riches have fallen from the sky for me—and you," Hondo stated joyfully as the ship exploded in the distance, laughing. "Shall we?"
Obi-Wan sighed tiredly, rolling his eyes. "Very well," he said softly, turning to Zelina. "What about you?"
"I want to come. I want to see…" Zelina said quietly, and Obi-Wan helped her get on the back of one of the speeder bikes the pirates were commandeering. Obi-Wan got on the back of Hondo's, and within moments they were racing across the barren Florrum wasteland towards the cargo ship wreckage.
The wreck was a mess of twisted metal, discarded crates, black smoke, and flames, hardly anything left, and definitely no lifeforms. Anything living in that ship had to have been obliterated with the impact.
And yet…
Zelina wandered quietly around the edge of the wreck, hand pressed against her shoulder room to stopper the bleeding some, the arm Maul had grabbed with his talon legs bleeding noticeably as well but left alone as she watched the pirates start to plunder the wreckage.
"There's no sign of those two, Boss!" one of the pirates called to Hondo after a few minutes.
"Well, if the condition of these goods is any indication, ah, your friends have been vaporized," Hondo said cheerfully.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Obi-Wan said cryptically. "I cut one of them in half once, and he survived."
"Well, isn't that interesting," Hondo said, though his tone made it obvious he really didn't care. Zelina stayed in place for a few moments, staring into the flames.
"I don't think they're gone," she said softly. "Nothing in the Force has changed to me—it's still as dark as when Maul entered the picture, and I felt no death…he's still out there…somewhere…"
"I think we have closure on this matter, Master Kenobi."
Zelina sat on the couch between Obi-Wan and Anakin, listening to mounting fury as Chancellor Palpatine spoke. They were gathered in the Chancellor's office, with Yoda and Master Windu on the other couch, discussing the matter of Maul in great depth, and now here the Chancellor was acting as if Maul had never been and would never be a problem. As if the medical wrap on her forearm and back, the healing cuts on her cheeks and hands, the limp in her leg, and the unseen bacta patch and wrappings over her shoulder weren't indication enough that yes, he was a problem! Especially since Obi-Wan was sporting some of those cuts and bruises himself, though he was missing the wrappings and the limp Zelina had. Luckily, he hadn't been hurt as badly as Zelina.
But poor Master Gallia…she'd died right next to her. A Jedi Master had died right next to her.
How was she supposed to cope with that?
"I disagree, Chancellor," Obi-Wan said avidly, shaking his head. "Everything we've learned from this is that the Sith are persistent. They will not die."
"I understand your reservations, Master Kenobi, but I am afraid we can no longer allow this personal matter of yours to be a Republic concern. It does not appear this Darth Maul is a direct threat to the Republic. We need to redirect your efforts to the cause at hand: stopping Count Dooku and thus ending the Clone Wars," the Chancellor said in a belittling tone. Zelina visibly bristled.
"Personal matter?" she echoed before anyone can stop her. "Maul has already slaughtered a Republic village, attacked who knows how many other citizens, and killed several Jedi! I'd say he's become more than a personal issue. If he's not handled now he's easily going to become a much larger issue."
"And Maul was trying to build an army of pirates," Obi-Wan said, his voice incredulous as he branched off of what Zelina had said.
"So let him! Let him play with the rabble. They're just petty crooks. It is of no relevance to the Senate compared to the Separatist threat." Obi-Wan and Anakin exchanged an equally dubious look, though Zelina paid them no mind. She was busy trying to bite her tongue and not let the rage bubbling up in her at the Chancellor's words win her over.
"Good day, Gentleman…Du'ahn."
Zelina's expression soured and she almost—almost—snapped, but managed to keep her calm when Anakin placed a comforting hand on her bicep. As the Chancellor left, all the Jedi rose to their feet and met in the middle.
"Something is stirring in the underworld…The crime families have had too much free reign since the Jedi have been distracted by the Clone War. I fear it is a fertile place for Maul to flourish, if he has indeed survived," Obi-Wan said gravely.
"Hmm…right you may be, Obi-Wan, but heed the words of the Chancellor we must. A personal matter this is for you. Clouded your judgement may be. As well as for you, Zelina. In time, if he lives, reveal himself again, Maul will. And then, swiftly, we shall act."
I just hope we won't be too late by then, Zelina couldn't help but think at the end of Master Yoda's speech.
The group of Jedi quietly took those words to heart, shuffling off to leave the building. Zelina fell into step by Obi-Wan and Anakin, feeling like the two wanted to talk after all the glances that had been exchanged by the three while in the Chancellor's office. They traveled through the halls of the Senate Building in silence, remaining quiet even all the way to the Temple, but as soon as they wandered into a quiet, deserted corner…
"Are you both all right?" Anakin asked, looking between Obi-Wan and Zelina, his gaze lingering on Zelina's obvious injuries.
"I'll be all right—Zelina, unfortunately, got the worst of it," Obi-Wan said grimly. Zelina shook her head.
"It wasn't anything too major. Maul just…did some damage with those talons to my arm and burned my back…I got knocked around some…and the blood loss from that shoulder wound thanks to Savage and the wall, but nothing too serious. The thing that does bother me…" Zelina sighed and shook her head. "I wish I could have done something…"
Obi-Wan seemed to instantly know what she was talking about, and comfortingly put a hand on her shoulder. "There was nothing you could do for Master Gallia. Honestly, I was shocked you survived. You impressed me out there, young one…you certainly have grown."
Zelina smiled slightly. "Well…it wasn't all just me out there," she said, eyes sliding over to Anakin in the hopes he could guess what she was talking about.
"Luke again?" Anakin asked, surprising Zelina with how open he was about it. She was also alarmed too—Obi-Wan didn't know—
"Obi-Wan knows," Anakin said with a smile, interrupting her thought process. "I forgot to tell you that while you were sick before all this Maul business I told him you'd been having visions of this Luke character that's helped you out of a few tight spots."
Zelina looked back at Obi-Wan, who was giving her a reassuring smile of confirmation. "Oh…" she said softly, clearing her throat. "Well…I owe him my life—twice, actually. He's the one who got me moving when Savage would have killed me next to Master Gallia—he moved my hands for me and gave me the extra charge I needed to hold Savage off, and again in the stronghold when Savage tried to finish me off while I was pinned to the wall. I still don't understand much of how I survived that double team attack though…"
Obi-Wan shifted uncomfortably. "That one was actually me, though I must ask…did you see anyone…other than Luke during this mission?"
Zelina blinked in surprise, all attention now on Obi-Wan. "No…I didn't. Why, did you?"
Obi-Wan looked worried, stroking his beard thoughtfully like he always did when something was bothering him. "Yes…as a matter of fact I did. It was how I was able to act fast enough to rescue you. A girl appeared, scared the daylights out of me…but she told me to help you, that she'd help me do so, and she guided what I did, much as you say Luke sometimes does for you. And I felt…I felt as if I knew her, knew her better than almost anyone else…and I knew her name…Pria…though I don't know how…" Obi-Wan said with a frown.
Zelina, however, wasn't looking at Obi-Wan. She was looking at Anakin, who looked as if he'd seen a ghost, or been run through with a lightsaber. "Anakin…Anakin, are you all right?" Zelina asked in concern. Anakin didn't pay her any mind—he was fixated on Obi-Wan.
"Strawberry blonde…grey/blue eyes…nimble, mischievous, a laugh like tinkling bells?" Anakin whispered, his voice barely audible.
Obi-Wan looked up sharply, his expression that of shock. "Yes…how did you know?"
"I've seen her before," Anakin said softly. "Once, in a vision of my own…"
"Wait, you've seen this Pria girl before?" Zelina asked in amazement. "How come you guys have seen the same girl?"
"I don't know," Anakin whispered. "Though…if Pria came to Obi-Wan when you were in trouble, and she came to me in a vision about you…maybe she has something to do with you."
"Do you know who she is?" Zelina pressed slightly. "I mean…I know who Luke is exactly, I just can't tell people."
Anakin shook his head. "No…I have no idea who she is."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I feel that is an answer that we won't have for quite some time…there's no point in trying to figure it out now."
Zelina sighed, shaking her head and turning her attention back to Anakin. "So, you've had a vision of me? When was this, and what about?"
To her immense surprise, Anakin blushed profoundly, suddenly looking extremely uncomfortable, like he wanted to be anywhere but there. "Ah, it was nothing, nothing of importance really. No darkness in the galaxy or anything like that, just some ramblings of what could have been…I brushed it off as a crazy dream until Obi-Wan described Pria."
Zelina arched an eyebrow. "Okay then…" she said slowly. "But I'm not going to forget about this. You can't be mad at me for planning on keeping that one Luke vision from you because this directly had to do with me and who knows how long you've been keeping it from me. And I'm not even mad—I'm just curious."
Anakin sighed. "Really? You're not going to leave this alone?"
"Oh, I will when I get bored of it, but I won't for a long time."
"Force help me."
"Oh come on, Anakin, you know there's no cure for me!"
Obi-Wan, who was watching in amusement, decided to cut in there. "All right you two, Zelina needs to get her rest so she can get back to the front lines sooner. I'm sure we would all like that."
"Yes, Obi-Wan," they both sighed simultaneously, earning a true smile from Obi-Wan.
"Good—then off you go. I'm sure in time we'll get answers to these questions. Just have patience…and the answers will come."