Chapter 8 - The Return

Author's Note: This is when the plot really starts kicking in... :)

~ Tirana Sorki

The death and destruction in the Force has been growing since the war started over two years ago. But what Anakin senses now is distinctly different. It's a dark ripple that's slowly spreading outwards, a disturbance that feels like something awakening. Something dark and long forgotten. He can't say what the sensation is but it's... unsettling. And it's familiar.

Too familiar, but he can't begin to place what it is.

"Anakin?" Ahsoka's soft voice interrupts Anakin's thoughts, her hand lightly touching his arm.

Her lekku are longer now, and she's... a bit past his elbow when they're standing side by side. She's grown so much since the start of the war – she's sixteen now.

Anakin looks up, meeting her gaze. "Something is not right."

And he has no idea what. The sound of the clatter of the restaurant – Dex's dinner – around them fades away entirely as he closes his eyes nudging outwards. The veil of the Dark Side doesn't cloud him like it does the Jedi but he still can't pinpoint the source of this disturbance.

Ahsoka frowns. "I sense it too. I think. Maybe Master Obi-Wan will know what it is."

"Maybe," Anakin agrees. The unease inside of him is only growing. There's something – What is it?

He downs the last of the food on his plate swiftly, waiting until Ahsoka is done before speaking again. They had a moment away from the fighting for them to just be so He took her out here. This is the first time he's been able to take Ahsoka to Dex's dinner in months. One of the first times they've had real food even if it's the supply is far more limited than it was before the war started.

"Let's go back to the Temple," he suggests, pushing himself up. So much for trying to relax. At least they had maybe an hour out here.

"Yeah," Ahsoka agrees, expression tight.

"Maybe we can take some food back for the boys," Anakin adds as an afterthought. They might be in a hurry but the boys deserve it more than anyone else. They never get to have real food. One more minute spent here won't hurt even if he really needs to see what's going on.

**w**

Anakin doesn't even make it back to the Temple before the Council comms him, telling him to come to the briefing room right away.

All the members present on Coruscant are standing around a holotable, varying expressions of worry on their faces.

What he doesn't understand is why they all feel so... wary.

And some of it feels like it's of him. It has Anakin instantly on edge. Something happened. Something's wrong.

"Sensed the disturbance in the Force, you must have," Yoda murmurs.

"Yes... Masters," Anakin acknowledges.

"Do you know what it is?" Obi-Wan asks.

How would he know?

"No."

There's something distinctly wild in Obi-Wan's Force presence that Anakin doesn't understand. The usual feel of coming rain has twisted to something like a rainstorm, wild and angry. He's upset about something and Anakin can't figure out what. That he doesn't think has to do with him but it does have to do with whatever the present problem is.

"We've identified the cause. It may be someone you're familiar with," Windu says, tone clipped. He feels unusually sharp, hard, in the Force as he turns to the holotable and pushes a button, displaying a hologram.

Anakin's blood runs cold.

He knows who that is.

Of course he knows who that is.

But this isn't possible. It's –

Maul?

He looks older in the hologram than when Anakin last saw him. He's dressed differently too – doesn't have a shirt on and his legs are metal but he looks very much alive. His yellow eyes are wild with rage and he feels different, darker than when Anakin last saw him but he's... alive?

That's not possible. How is it possible? He was dead. He was.

"You know who that is?" Obi-Wan demands.

They're all staring at him.

It feels like the world is coming in from far away.

And then the reality of the situation starts rapidly catching up with him. If the Jedi know Maul's alive then they know he's a Sith and that means – Force.

They may have been lenient with Anakin because of the circumstances under which they took him and because he was a child, but Maul... isn't either.

Maul, who Anakin grew up with for years. Who is basically his brother. Who took care of him and protected him from the worst of Sidious. Who tried to help Anakin survive. Who Anakin tried to help after Sidious hurt him. Who Anakin had taught the meaning of what it truly meant to care.

Who Anakin thought was dead for so long but apparently is still alive and the Jedi are –

This is bad.

Anakin nods mutely, heart rate picking up.

Windu pushes a button on the hologram, turning on the recording.

"I know you have Anakin Skywalker," Maul snarls, his voice so aching familiar it guts Anakin to his core, "Send him to me. And send only Kenobi here with him. Make no mistake or this entire village will die." The hologram shifts a little, to show Maul standing in front of a group of prisoners on the ground, their arms restrained behind their backs. They look terrified. There's smoke burning in the background.

Anakin's gut flips violently.

He knew Maul did dark things but seeing it is something else entirely. He's going to hurt people. For no reason.

Except that he's worried about Anakin. He wants the Jedi to turn him over and Anakin knows it could be for Sidious, but he doesn't think so. Probably. This is Maul. He – he always took care of him.

Much the same way Obi-Wan did, even if Obi-Wan was... gentler about it. But Maul never knew better, never had anyone there for him and Anakin always tried to help him in return. They – He can't let the Jedi hurt him.

"I can reason with him," Anakin speaks up, "If I go – "

"No," Windu cuts him off, "We're already aware of how dangerous this Sith Lord is. There is no reasoning with him."

"But –I know him. He will... listen to me if I ask him to stop what he's doing." He doesn't know what Maul's goal is, what he's up to and he doesn't know that the Sith will listen to him but he can at least try.

"That's not a risk we're willing to take," Windu replies curtly, "We'll send a strike team to apprehend him ourselves."

Then what was the point of them telling him about this?

"But – you can't kill him!" His heart is pounding, panic lighting in his chest. He looks at Obi-Wan, half desperately, wishing he'd say something, but he doesn't. He feels entirely of ice and fury in the Force, like a blind vengeance is consuming him from the moment he saw that hologram and Anakin doesn't understand.

"I'll deal with him myself. I handled him once before," Obi-Wan says.

"Not alone," Windu objects.

Wait –

Wait.

"That was you?" Anakin asks, voice strangled. It was Obi-Wan who – who nearly killed him or whatever exactly happened? It was because of Obi-Wan that he's grieved Maul, thinking him dead, all these years?

Obi-Wan's gaze locks with his. "Yes."

No, no. This can't be happening. All this time and he didn't even know. Is that the reason the Jedi had Obi-Wan watch over him? Because he'd killed a Sith before? He has no idea why it hurts so much, feels so much like a betrayal. But this is Obi-Wan, who he's looked up to so much even if he shouldn't have, every moment since he came to the Tempe and he's the one who nearly killed Maul. That has to be why Maul is asking for Obi-Wan – he wants vengeance. Anakin can see it in his eyes.

Oh, Force.

What – how is he supposed to handle this? He doesn't want either of them hurt but what's he's supposed to do if both of them want the other dead?!

"Until this threat is passed, you are to remain here at the Temple, Skywalker," Windu orders.

What?

"But that's – unfair. I haven't done anything," he protests, heart hammering wildly. This can't be happening. And it's not fair of them to do this when he's done nothing against them. Even if they probably rightfully suspected that he wasn't going to just stay out of this – he was already half a mind to go after Maul even if they did tell him to stay here. This is – he's his brother. And he's still alive.

Force, he's alive.

And no matter what he's done or about to do, all Anakin can feel is relief that he's alive.

"Your emotions are clouding your judgement," Plo speaks up. He says it gently but it still hurts.

And it's not like he's a Jedi. They can't preach Jedi-things at him when – "I'm not one of you. You can't – "

"Exactly," Windu cuts him off, "We gave you freedom to move because you asked to help but that was still our decision. And for now, you will remain at the Temple at all times."

Anakin opens his mouth and then snaps it closed again as the full implications of what Windu just said settle over him. He's – he knew he was still their prisoner. He didn't think the Council had ever stopped seeing it that way when it's still true but he thought – he thought everything he'd done for them, for Obi-Wan, – even if they never asked him to, meant something.

But no. Of course not. He's still a just a Sith to them.

Still – they'll still force him into submission if they have to because he's still not free. Never has been.

He looks to Obi-Wan anyway, desperately wishing he'd say something but he doesn't.

"For your own sake, stay out of this afraid, Skywalker," Windu orders, "And you will have gained my trust."

His trust?

Excuse –

How has he not already proved that he doesn't have anything against them? He just doesn't want his brother to die!

But they aren't going to listen to anything he has to say.

He has no idea how he's supposed to – to look Obi-Wan in the eye knowing that he hurt Maul, knowing that he's about to do it again, that Maul could be about to die when Anakin just found out that he's still alive. He has no idea what to do. They're going to be watching him. If he tries to do anything, they'll see it and he doesn't want to just give up everything he's gained all this time and yet – This is his brother.

But Maul is smart. He's got to be expecting an entire group of Jedi. he's got to be prepared for it. Or at least Anakin can hope so.

The Council members are starting to disperse now. Anakin still feels rooted to the spot. He feels sick. Wants to throw up. Or cry. Kind of thinks he's going to do both.

Obi-Wan lingers by the table the longest, looking at him for the first time as the others are leaving. His face is twisted in a slight frown.

"Obi-Wan," he starts, heart pounding. He knows the Jedi hate the Sith and therefore Maul, but Obi-Wan's almost always been kind to him and he still trusts him and he can't believe he's about to do this. "No one – no one needs to be hurt if I go."

Obi-Wan sighs. "You must have been young when he was... lost. How much do you know of what he's done?"

"I know he – he's only what he is because of our master," he protests, "Sidious hurt him worse than he did me." Though that's probably only because Anakin was so breakable at the time.

Obi-Wan's expression flickers a little but he still feels so angry. "He killed Qui-Gon, Anakin."

Wait –

What?

That was Maul?

Anakin knows a little of how much Obi-Wan missed Qui-Gon, how... hard it was for him but he never asked for details for that exact reason. He never imagined that it was Maul who did that. That explains Obi-Waa's desire for vengeance. At least it explains why he's so angry. Makes it a lot more reasonable and Anakin suddenly feels awful for not even realizing that. Is that why he's had such a grudge against the Sith all this time?

But that doesn't help solve the fact that Anakin can't just let Maul die. It's not his fault that Sidious did what he did to him, even if he's done things that aren't right, that can't be fixed. But it feels insensitive to say that to Obi-Wan.

"I didn't know," Anakin says, voice strangled.

"He has to be brought to justice," Obi-Wan insists, "If he surrenders, he will be dealt with fairly. You know that."

He wants to believe that. But he really doesn't. Maul's never going to surrender. And he's not sure he can believe that Obi-Wan is going to restrain himself from hurting him if he has the choice. And he can only half blame him for that. If Anakin could get retaliation against Sidious for what he did to Mom...

Obi-Wan turns to go and all Anakin can do is watch, the panic so tight in his chest he can hardly breathe. He has no idea what's going to happen to Maul or if he's ever going to see his brother again. Or – or if something's going to happen to Obi-Wan while he's gone.

**w**

No matter where Anakin goes, it feels like there's eyes on him. All the Temple guards are watching him, aren't they? He can't tell if it's his own nerves or that they actually are but even passing them is uncomfortable so he goes to his room.

For a moment, it hardly feels like it ought to be his room. He hasn't felt this out of place in so long.

"You're not one of them. You never will be."

Dooku's words echo through his mind again.

He sits down on the edge of his bed, absently fiddling with a piece of machinery. The smell of oil and machines has always permeated his room and it still does, though it's duller in how long he hasn't been here to work on anything because of the war.

Right now, though, it's reminding him of the garage at the Works where he spent so much time, both before and after Maul was lost.

A light knock on his door draws Anakin out of his thoughts. He doesn't want to talk to anyone right now but then he realizes it's Ahsoka.

"Come in," he calls, trying not to sound about as miserable as he's feeling. The Jedi are trying to kill his brother and there's nothing he can do.

"I heard what happened," the Togruta says, stepping inside. She's eyeing him with concern, and... not wariness exactly, but there's something assessing and inquisitive in her gaze.

He nods, half mindlessly.

She crosses the room, dropping onto the bed next to him. "Are you alright?"

He blinks, the question catching him a little by surprise. But it probably shouldn't. This is Ahsoka. "No," he admits quietly.

"You're worried about him, aren't you?" she observes, studying him.

He can't help the way he braces instantly for criticism. This is his little sister. though. He's not going to snap at her. She's his responsibility, the center of his focus for years. He just wishes it didn't feel like he has to choose a side. How can he? He doesn't pick between family. That's not what family is supposed to be like.

"He's like my brother, Ahsoka," Anakin says, unable to bring himself to meet her gaze. It feels like it's somehow a crime for admitting this. "Sidious... raised us together for three years." He's known Ahsoka and Obi-Wan way longer now but that doesn't mean he's ever stopped missing Maul anymore than he could stop missing Mom.

"You were... close?" she asks uncertainly.

"He took care of me. He – he snuck me food sometimes when Sidious... was punishing me. He – And I helped him when Sidious hurt him. We were all each other had for years."

He can feel her flare of horror. "I didn't know Sidious starved you?"

"All the time." He can't bring himself to look up. "But he did worse to Maul. I know what he's doing is wrong but he is what his master made him into."

She bites her lip, seemingly uncertain. "But he's not with his master anymore," she points out, "And he's not... making any different choices."

Because he's doing it for Anakin, because he's worried about what the Jedi have being doing to him. It's as touching as it makes him feel sick.

Not that Ahsoka's wrong, but...

"That's why I want to talk to him," Anakin says, hand clenching.

Ahsoka reaches out, taking Anakin's hand. "I'd say let's do it but I don't think the Council would be happy."

His gut flips at the mere thought. If he disobeys the Councils orders, he won't just be having a talk with them the way another Jedi would. They could hurt him. The feel of the cold chain pressed against his neck isn't something that'll ever fade from mind.

He doesn't know what to do.

"They would not," he agrees hoarsely.

"Hey, if Maul cooperates after the Jedi bring him in, I'm sure something can work out," she offers.

He nods. Wants to believe her. Kind of still can't. Not that there's anything he can do unless he's really willing to run away, abandon all of this – Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, his boys – and he's not. But...

Ahsoka twists around suddenly, half jumping into his lap and he thinks she's trying to hug him or something but then she starts tickling him. He definitely doesn't yelp in surprise before he starts laughing.

And tickle attacks her back.

"No fair!" Ahsoka whines between giggles as they somehow manage to end up in a flailing pile on the bed and Ahsoka is unfortunately too small to get away from him.

"You did start it," he reminds her cheerfully though he rolls over, flopping onto his back next to her.

He feels better. Just a tiny bit. Even if he doesn't think that'll stay true for long.

**w**

The knowledge that he's trapped here at the Temple has made him unreasonably restless even though it's only been hours. He wanders down to the hanger, half to find something to do, half just... remembering the days when he was young, before they gave him the freedoms they did, when he'd spend so much time here. The hanger is a lot busier than it ever used to be. There's a lot more damaged ships here too, being repaired.

And then he spots a familiar figure moving around one of the ships.

"Mill?" he asks, startled.

The girl perks up – she's still tiny, even if she's about twelve now. "Anakin? It's been a long time."

"Yes," he agrees. "How are your relief missions going?" Despite his conversation with her about her questions about the Order, Mill decided not to become a padawan. She still works closely with a Jedi Master because of her age but she's never going to be like a normal Jedi. But maybe that fits her best.

"The same, as usual," she offers, "It's... sometimes hard to be to so any places destroyed by the war but at least it feels like I'm helping."

He nods. He wishes he felt so assured in what he's been doing all this time. He did until this morning, until – He knew the Council never trusted him and they don't have a reason to, but he thought... Thought there was something there at least. Now he just feels lost.

"Master Nema and I are back to restock supplies and then we'll be leaving again," Mill adds.

Anakin's about to reply when he hears said Jedi Master calling the girl and she scampers up onto the ship with one backward wave. He watches her go, lingering a moment longer before he decides to go back to his room and call Rex.

He's got to be wondering what's happening to him by now – something quickly proved by how fast the captain picks up the call.

"I would come in person," Anakin tells him, "But there's a situation. I won't be able to come right now." The Council didn't want word of anything spreading, just like they didn't want anyone knowing that Anakin's not a normal Jedi, period.

"Anything I can help with, sir?" Rex asks.

If only.

"No." He sighs. He wishes he could explain what's wrong, wishes he could talk to someone about how he feels about the Council but he's pretty sure they're monitoring his communications. Probably always have. "But I hope it won't be long."

"I can handle things while you're gone, sir." He's quiet for a long pause, eyeing him. "Is everything... alright, sir?"

He didn't know it was that obvious. "I'll explain later," Anakin tells him awkwardly. He can't well explain about the Council or about Maul when he's being listened to.

Rex nods.

Whether or not he gets the point, Anakin doesn't know, but he doesn't ask again.

Anakin stays on the call for a time, just to help Rex with strategy planning and reports and whatnot... Anything to keep his mind of where Maul is and what's happening.

**w**

Obi-Wan has to grudgingly admit that maybe he should've agreed for more Jedi to come along to deal with Maul. The Sith captured him – though that was only because of Savage, who's apparently working with him now – and he only got away because of Ventress, of all people in the galaxy. It's genuinely kind of embarrassing. But Maul got away and all Obi-Wan can remember is that moment he ran Qui-Gon through with his lightsaber, the moment he held his master in his arms as he died. And Anakin... cares about Maul.

He has no idea what to do with that implication. He can't ignore the small sting of betrayal in his chest but he knows that's not really fair – Anakin never knew about Qui-Gon. And he did know Maul and... In truth, Obi-Wan knows very little of what the boy endured with the Sith.

"You can't kill him!"

Anakin had looked so scared when he heard the Jedi were going after Maul.

He's worried about him.

How is Obi-Wan supposed to approach something like that?

He also knows how hurt Anakin looked when the Council ordered him to stay here and he needs to talk to him. Obi-Wan can't say the Council's concerns about how Anakin will react aren't fair, considering how emotionally invested he is in this but he can't actually imagine the boy betraying him. He admittedly feels a little bad about how harsh the Council was being.

He doesn't want to see him hurting but he doesn't know what to do. He can't deny the sudden fear burning inside of him that – that he's going to lose him. Which is ridiculous because if Anakin's' been this light despite being a Sith all these years, he's not going to turn on them now. He trusts him far more than he probably should and he doesn't believe that, but he – can't deny being afraid that Maul might use this against Anakin himself somehow or maybe... trick him.

He finds Anakin in his room – he's working on a mechanical-mess-something but he sort of freezes mid-move, expression tightening as Obi-Wan steps inside.

"What – what happened?" His voice is almost strangled but his expression is unusually closed-off.

"He escaped," Obi-Wan replies, tone more clipped than he meant it to be. He just... has no idea how to deal with a situation this – emotional. That Maul's alive and needs to be stopped feels simple to him. How is he supposed to handle the messiness of Anakin caring about the person who killed Qui-Gon?

He's pretty sure he sees a flicker of relief but Anakin doesn't really react outwardly much. "Are you ... alright?" the boy asks uncertainly, looking up at him.

The question startles him a little, but it probably shouldn't. Anakin is still Anakin even if he's attached to a Sith who Obi-Wan wants dead. "More or less," he assures.

"You look like you got kicked in the face repeatedly," Anakin says dubiously.

"I was. At least twice."

Anakin winces though he doesn't reply.

The silence that settles over them is awkward and strained and he hates it. Why did Malul have to show up out of nowhere and just – Everything feels different.

It's a sharp reminder that Anakin is a Sith and Obi-Wan wishes he wasn't.

"Am I... free to leave yet?" Anakin asks hesitantly, not quite meeting his gaze. He always struggles with that, for some reason.

"The Council would prefer it if you remain here for now. We don't know what it is Maul wants with you," Obi-Wan replies.

Anakin sort of deflates, crossing his arms. Still doesn't say anything.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan starts, only half sure what's he's trying to say, "It's not that I don't... trust your loyalty. But this is the Council's decision."

"I know."

He still doesn't react visibly much.

He kind of wants to ask about Maul but he doesn't know that he even wants to know. Which is – definitely selfish but he doesn't want to keep thinking about the person who killed his master.

"We haven't had real food in a long time. What do you say to a meal down in the Knight hall together?"

Anakin's expression flickers a little and he nods, the faintest traces of a smile crossing his face. "Sure. We can... go now."

At least that's slightly familiar.

Neither of them brings up the other topic the rest of the evening. There's a few moments Ob-Wan could almost think things are normal but it still feels like there's a silent bantha sitting at the table with them, that they're both ignoring.

**w**

The blaring sound of an alarm jars Anakin awake sharply. He's on his feet instantly, ears twitching, tail flickering – sometimes he sleeps on his bed in his wolf form like he did tonight.

Why are the alarms for intruders being in the Temple going off?

That happened once before with a bounty hunter. Is that what's going on again?

He jumps to the floor, trotting out into the hallway. Something moves in the shadows and he looks up to see the Temple guards moving a little closer, watching him. They're radiating an unusual amount of tension and now that Anakin's reaching out with the Force –

The Force is whispering of something... It's cold but it's a familiar coal-like sensation, even if it's far away. It's what Maul always felt of, in the Force.

Wait.

Is that Maul?

Why is he sensing him here, in the Jedi Temple, right when he hears an alarm going off?

That could only mean one thing.

He's here. Right here in the Temple right now. It's only been a couple days since he heard he was alive. Why would he come here?

He better not have come here to –

Oh no.

He has to find him now. Tell to him to get out of here before the Jedi get to him. What's he thinking?!

Anakin breaks into a run down the hall, ignoring the way he can feel eyes on him. Once he's out of the living quarters, tracking down where the most of the disturbance is isn't that hard. The Jedi are swarming everywhere in the lower levels of the Temple, looking for him.

He runs into the bodies first.

One of the back entrances is smoking, flames licking across the walls. Jedi healers are swarming around the Temple guards on the ground. One of them was run all the way through with a lightsaber but he's still alive right now. He doesn't have time to see how the others are injured but at least they're alive. At least Maul didn't kill anyone else. Yet.

With so many Jedi on the scene, Anakin has no idea how they lost track of him. But his own dog senses will come in more useful than anything else right now.

He sniffs around the floor for the familiar coal-like scent. Scents are always similar to how people feel in the Force. Usually.

He picks up the familiarity of it in moments, even if it's being overridden by how many other Jedi have already been on the scene. But he has the scent now and he just needs to track it.

Anakin breaks into a run down the hall, leaving the rest of the Jedi behind. Hopefully none of them are paying him any attention because he has to get to Maul first. And he's running out of time.

The Temple is on its night cycle right now so the halls are dimmed but he doesn't need light to see. He's rounded a few more corners in the Temple when the scent starts getting fresher quickly.

Anakin knew from the moment he heard that Maul was still alive that he'd see him again somehow but he never thought it would be right now, only days later. Anakin rounds the corner only to come face to face with the Sith himself.

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