I am back baby! And since a lot of you have been wanting this (and I mean a lot), have some Space Cockroach!

Summary: Maul is on the warpath. He wants to once again rise to power and take revenge of those who ruined him. And he knows how he can do it.

Maul deserved better than this. He once had power, and he was going to get it back. The Zabrak had hoped that the guilt of being responsible for what happened to Ezra's former master combined with his constant "visits" would make his apprentice hear reason. But no. The boy was still resisting the call.

Perhaps a killing blow towards Kanan Jarrus would have been better...

Maul stared out into space as the TIE fighter he had stolen from one of the deceased Inquisitors drifted through space. He was set for at least another week, but he would have to resupply again soon...and get a better ship. Something he can use to disappear once he collected his apprentice so he cluld train him in peace until it was time. Somewhere where the Empire nor the rebels could find either of them.

Speaking of rebels, Maul realized it had been far too long since he paid his apprentice a visit.

What was he going to subject his apprentice to this time? Almost each time before, the boy would resist him until his meddling former master intervened and kicked him out.

If the boy continued to be disobedient, he would have to be eliminated.

Of course, Maul would have to get ahold of him first. It was going to happen eventually. Maul was going to have the boy, even if he had to take him by force. However, a lot had to happen between now and then. He had to find the boy, for one thing. Just because he could trace Ezra's mind didn't mean Maul had his location. He had to know how many he would have to kill in order to get to him. He had to find a safe location to train because once he had Ezra, both the Empire and the Rebellion would be on his heels. If either of them took Ezra, it would take a long time for Maul to relocate him.

However, Maul could prepare him from afar. Maul got up from the pilot chair, thankful that the Inquisitors were high enough rank to get roomy TIE fighters, and lowered himself into a cross-legged position. He closed his eyes, allowing the cold waves of darkness wash around him, drawing power from the Force and using his anger to give him enough strength to smash through Ezra's already weak mental barriers.

Instantly, Ezra's mind went cold, his body shutting down from Maul's frightening presence. "No..." Ezra mumbled weakly into the Force. "Not again... Get away... Leave me alone... Please..."

"Fear not, my apprentice," Maul replied. "I am not here to hurt you."

"Please! I'm begging you!"

"There is no mercy Ezra. Perhaps I should have killed your master after all. Would have made my job a lot easier."

Ezra seemed to panic and he began sobbing. "No! Don't hurt him! Please don't hurt him! You've hurt Kanan enough! Please don't kill him!"

Maul sighed. This sniveling child was siding with his former master? How pathetic.

"You're mine boy. You're going to be mine, and when I come for you, you had better be ready. You will fully embrace the darkness, even if I have to beat you within an inch of your life."

Suddenly, a warm presence filled the area. Ezra's presence seemed to relax. Maul wanted to groan. The meddling Jedi was back.

"How many times are you going to interfere with me?" Maul growled. "The boy is responsible for all that has happened! Why are you so insistent on protecting him?"

"None of it was his fault," the Jedi growled. "It was all you! And even if it was his fault, if you think one simple mistake will make me abandon him, then you clearly don't understand the bond between a master and padawan!"

"The darkness is your destiny, Ezra!" Maul yelled, ignoring Kanan. "Why can't you see that? The Jedi claims he won't abandon you, yet he can't teach you now! I can show you the true ways of the Force, not a bunch of lies and fairy tales."

"Shut up!" Ezra yelled. "Leave me alone! Kanan isn't a liar! You're the only liar around here so get lost!"

"You can tell me to leave all you want, child," Maul sneered. "We have a bond, just like you have with your former master. We can fix that though. As soon as I find you, you can continue your recovery! I know what happened to you after Malachor."

"You don't know a thing about him," Kanan said cooly. "Next time you come in here, I will crush you and if you come anywhere near him physically, you're going to be sorry."

Maul scoffed. "As if you can lay a hand on me."

"Are you sure about that? I guess falling off the temple wasn't enough for you."

Maul sighed, knowing this was a losing argument. He had thrown Kanan out before. Perhaps he could do it again. Maul gathered up all of his energy and prepared to throw out the meddling Jedi. Before he could release the energy he felt something...a barrier?

"Not this time," Kanan snapped.

The barrier grew larger and larger until Maul had to draw out before he could be crushed.

When Maul opened his eyes, the anger was built up inside of him, anger towards his constant failures.

No matter. As long as he had the bond, he could come back as many times as he wanted.

Kanan came out of meditation to sense Ezra staring up at him, the presence wild with fright. Upon sensing Maul enter Ezra's mind, he immediately pulled him from the bunk and began to mediate in an attempt to get the meddling sleemo out.

"It's okay kid," Kanan said softly. "Just go back to sleep."

Within a few minutes, Ezra went limp and his breathing evened out. Kanan laid Ezra back down on the bed and stood, making his way carefully to his meditation chair before sitting back down.

With the recent revelations, there was no way he was getting back to sleep.

A bond? How did Ezra not sense it? And more importantly, how did Kanan not sense it? It had to have been extremely weak, yet strong enough to allow Maul easy access into his mind.

And was it hindering Ezra's recovery? Was the bond behind Ezra being unable to speak?

And what about Maul? What if Maul knew where they were? What if Maul came for Ezra? Kanan wasn't sure he would be able to stop him. He defeated Maul once blind, but Maul had underestimated him. Kanan knew that if he let Maul take Ezra away, Kanan would never forgive himself. All the possibilities circled back to the question surrounding the bond that Ezra had unknowingly formed, meaning there was one solution.

That bond had to go.

Plot twist!

I may not tackle the issue with the bond right away, but the bond will come into play multiple times.

Explanation in case you're confused: On Malachor, Ezra accidentally formed a bond with Maul, kind of like the master and padawan bond except with the dark side. It is weak enough so it can coexist with Kanan's bond. Kanan and Ezra have been unable to sense it, but Maul knew it was there so that is how Maul has been getting into Ezra's head. The two bonds are putting a strain on Ezra's mind, and combined with the trauma of what happened, is what caused Ezra to not be able to speak whenever he is aware. Not sure if that can be a thing but it works because it can, not because it should.

So basically Space Cockroach has screwed EVERYTHING up.

I don't know if I said this before, but I get the feeling Rebels is going to be the boot that finally squashes him and it may not be necessarily in Season Three. I mean, it takes a lot to kill a cockroach. Obi-Wan couldn't do it. Sidious couldn't do it. And don't even get me started on the Inquisitors.

See you guys next week!