Invasion - Part 1

Zaiya couldn't believe it. It had been so long here on Kamino, days had become weeks had become months, and now just over one Galactic standard year had passed. Her mission had been kept secret… but now - now she stood in the pristine lab of Nala Se, standing before the huge tank at the back of the room. Her fists clenched at her side, her jaw set as she stared up at the tank. After over a year of waiting, patience and persistence…

It was finally here.

Maul was being lifted carefully via an automated process and he was… he was whole. His bare legs extended below the rather clean cut at his waist. They were more developed, muscle-wise from the last time she had looked at them, and as he was laid out along the table, his eyes closed almost serenely, she could examine him a little more closely.

Though being so close to his naked form made her nervous, and rather warm in the face. His legs seemed fully formed, though a little slender. Not that she got a good look before he was cut, his clothing had always been quite loose. The most striking thing of course was the lack of black tattoos over his red flesh. It was more naked than his actual lack of clothing. Zaiya had his robe nearby, laying it over him for the sake of modesty. She wasn't sure if such things bothered him, it had not really come up before.

After a short moment of calm, his eyes snapped open. Yellow and bloodshot, searching for danger. Maul only physically relaxed when his gaze landed on Zaiya herself, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"Zaiya…" he whispered.

"I am here, sire," she replied and squeezed his hand gently.

"This is not the dreamscape," he reasoned, slowly sitting up.

"No, you are awake," she said.

"Your progress has indeed been remarkable," Nala Se interrupted. Zaiya had almost forgotten the Kaminoan was even there. Maul whipped his head around to look at her. It was not often that he was awoken, usually only for a few minutes at a time and not completely out of the tank. Zaiya had witnessed the moments, grateful to be there to ease his suspicions in such a place. How he had put up with being in there for so long… he was not usually so patient. She suspected his desire to be whole again was strong enough to allow himself to let go, even if for a short time.

The moments of old memories had helped, piecing them all back together with him while he slept, sharing her own memories when the time arose. For the moment he glared hard at the Kaminoan, and Zaiya wondered if he had hoped the moment to be more… special? She had, if she were truthful with herself. But there would be time later to talk about how he felt about the situation, when Nala Se was not standing over them.

"You expected less?" Maul sneered. By the Winged Goddess it was good to hear his voice. His real voice. Her lashes fluttered slightly when he spoke again, but she forced herself to focus.

"I did not expect anything," Nala Se replied. She did not seem overly impressed though Zaiya could sense that even the Chief Scientist was pleased with the result. It was a damn miracle really. "I merely interpreted the data as it was presented, my surprise is only due to the projected outcome being surpassed." Maul stared at her for a few moments, a hard glare in his yellow eyes. Then his gaze slid to Zaiya, and softened at the edges.

"Then it is done?" he asked. To anyone else it would be impassive, but she knew him enough by now to detect the hope in his voice.

"Almost, we need to run a few tests, ensure that the growth is stable. There has been no weight on your muscles, and you will need to learn to walk again," Nala Se replied with the same flat intonation as usual. Maul's mouth formed a disapproving line. Zaiya knew she should be equally annoyed, but she found she could not be upset when he was right there. Whole. Awake.

He moved to sit up and realised he was covered in the robe. The Zabrak stilled and she could only assume he had only just realised he had a lower half… or perhaps that he was naked.

"We will need to test your reflexes-" Nala Se began but Maul flashed her a glare and she was silent.

"I can take care of that," Zaiya interjected. She held out her hand for the datapad and gave the long neck a pointed look. You can go now. Nala Se did not look pleased as she stared back at Zaiya for a long moment. Her tiny mouth opened as if to protest and Zaiya just tilted her head forward ever so slightly.

Another tense minute passed in silence until eventually the stubborn Nightsister won out and Nala Se handed over the pad, excusing herself and saying she would be back soon.

The door hissed closed and Zaiya secured it with a tap to the control pad. She looked back at Maul who was looking down at his lower half. With trepidation he lifted the fabric to expose one of his legs. Unmarked red flesh.

Yet flesh it was.

He let out a breath like he'd been punched in the chest. It took a moment and he rested a hand on his own thigh and squeezed. Likely the feeling was what had his breath shudder.

"You did it…" he whispered and looked up at her. "They're real."

"I merely brought you here, it was your own will that allowed the process to work, sire," she replied, her mouth feeling dry as she watched him carefully slide to the edge of the table and rest weight upon one leg. He let out a hiss and his teeth grit.

"Maul!" she gasped. Immediately she could tell he was in pain and darted forward to wrap an arm around his shoulders and support his weight off the ground.

"This is nothing," Maul ground out but it was obvious from the way his voice wavered, the pain was intense. His legs had not yet been used, so there would be much for him to adjust to while they were conditioned to physical exertion. She let him lean on her for support, even if he was loathe to do so.

"I shall have to prepare the ritual for your markings at some point, sire," she told him, using the topic to distract from the agony of slowly putting his weight on his new legs.

"...yes…" he managed through grit teeth.

"Perhaps I should conjure something more modern, would you like a pretty pattern? Or maybe a Krayt dragon on one leg?" she grinned and he shot her a filthy look. He didn't find it as funny as she did, it seemed.

In their 'tests' Maul only managed to hold his weight for thirty seconds before she took control back to help him back to lay down again. She checked the datapad and if she could blush she might have turned hot pink. Maul seemed to notice her flustered state and questioned her with his eyes.

"It-it seems after the physical tests the muscles should be massaged to reduce swelling and any other issues," she summarised. It was an important step but…

"If that is necessary then…" he waved a hand toward her and she bit the inside of her cheek. He acted as though it were no big deal! Well… it wasn't. It was just a medical procedure, nothing untoward, of course.

"Of course, sire," she nodded and shifted to stand further down the table, her gloved hands reaching out but she quickly realised that it was inefficient. She would have to do this properly.

"Does it really disgust you so…?" Maul asked quietly and looked up at her, her pale brows furrowed.

"Not at all, I simply do not wish to cause you discomfort." Not to mention touching him felt a little… intimate, and not for her hands.

"I am indifferent to pain and discomfort is nothing to me," he said snidely.

The Nightsister nodded and moved to get the bacta gel, and her own thoughts lingering in her head. Not for her hands. If not her, then who? Who would she dare to trust to touch him so? She could not think of anyone, save his own brothers. And if he accepted this then… then why not her? She set her jaw resolutely and turned back to him, slipping off her gloves in order to apply the gel to his legs from foot to waist. This was going to be… interesting.

She talked to him calmly during the procedure, informing him of the results on the datapad, of the progress she had with the Troopers, telling him how all the knowledge of their tactics, Republic systems and her own lessons in commanding and training men would be valuable for the future.

All the while her hands slid over the skin slowly, gently, knowing the bare red skin must be sensitive as it had never been touched before. She could feel the tension in him, the way his jaw clenched and he could not seem to speak.

"Is it painful, my lord?" she asked softly, seeing his hand clench at his side.

"N-no, lieutenant, I am fine," he said through gritted teeth. Her gaze softened, it must be painful, though she could only imagine he was putting on a brave front. By the time he had to turn over she was sure he was losing his cool. The silence permeated with soft grunts as her gel-slick hands slid and gently squeezed along his thigh. His body was so warm, almost hot to the touch compared to her hands. Zaiya had to be careful as she made her way up his hip.

Now laying on his front he was able to hide his face from her but she could still hear the heavier breaths and see the rise and fall of his back. It was not easy, attempting to be gentle while also ignoring the heat bubbling up within. To feel his bare flesh… he was so vulnerable beneath her, exposed and yet trusting of her to take care of him. It was a heady concoction and she tried to pretend some of the gentle squeezes of his hip and thigh and buttocks were solely for the sake of healing. She tried not to take pleasure in the way she touched him, told herself she was imagining those soft gasps to be anything but pain. The Nightsister was able to stave off her own perversions, ashamed of her own thoughts and tried to guard them so as not to disturb Maul were he to reach out into the Force. She would not be so foolish. He did not derive pleasure from these touches.

At least… she was sure of it, though it became much harder to believe as her hands gently squeezed his waist, near the scar and a low moan escaped from the crimson zabrak beneath her.


Maul was mortified. Did he actually just do that? This was utter agony. Complete torture he had to endure. Clearly she had no idea what she was doing to him. The gentle touch of her hands, his skin was so sensitive, her hands soft and cool and soothing and… absolutely incredible. It took every ounce of his significant discipline to will his body to not respond to the touches. To keep from giving in and squirming under her hands like an idiot. His breathing had already increased and at least his face was turned away so he could rest his head on his forearm and grit his teeth as the waves of pleasure washed over him.

He had gotten too complacent… The sound that had escaped him was one of unbridled desire. Maul had attempted to keep all his thoughts and wayward ideas pressed down. But a burning part of his mind urged him to give in. To turn back to her and bring her closer, tell her to touch him again, to never let him go and then to return the touches, make her writhe and mewl under his hands the way she did the night before they'd come here. A year or more ago… so very long since he had heard that divine scream of his name from her plush lips.

"Are you well, sire?" she asked in an almost whisper. It brought him out of his distractedness. Pain he knew. He could handle pain. He could use it… but this? This was an unknown, and these feelings and sensations only ever seemed to come from her. Her hands still lingered at his waist, frozen in place.

"I'm fine," he replied raggedly.

"Do you wish to stop?"

No! Don't stop!

"I… believe that is enough for today, Lieutenant," his voice was husky and he felt a rush from her in the Force before she pulled back. Was she… having a hard time controlling herself too? It made him feel a little better. Was she looking at him with hungry eyes? His Lieutenant was reserved most of the time and she did not often give in to her own wants. But if he could- no.

No, he needed to maintain control. If he could master pain, he could master this. A Kaminoan facility was hardly the place to give in and lower his guard. He was in enemy territory here. There were Jedi, and he needed to maintain himself, he could not give in to it.

Her hands pulled away and it was almost painful… but that was something he knew. Familiar ground, he could handle that. Pulling himself up, back in control, he turned, but took the cloak to cover himself.

"I have procured you some clothing, sire," Zaiya spoke from behind him, he turned and she offered him plain black clothing, fitted and flexible, some sort of body glove, but not made for him, he suspected, it was loose in some places… tighter in others.

"It was the best I could do without drawing attention," she explained. Maul nodded and took the cloak she had provided, it draped his shoulders and wore it much similar to the over tunic he had previously worn as a Sith apprentice, it eased the frigidity of the sterile and cold room. He knew standing and walking around would have to wait, and having another of those massages was out of the question. Instead he sat and looked at his Lieutenant, who stood dutifully by his side, a strange look on her face he could not decipher.

"We shall need to begin the next stages," he said quietly.

"Yes, I am sure you have plans?' she asked as the white-haired woman sat beside him, her hands now clean of the gel and re-gloved. She smelled different. Her usual scent and perfume were wonderful as always but the scent of bacta and… humans was far stronger. His brow furrowed. Yes, they needed to begin the next stages. Maul needed his revenge, but Zaiya's suggestion some time ago of an army… something of his own, power and control over others, it was the Sith way. But he was not a Sith anymore. Was family the answer? To return for Savage and Feral and… then what? Travel? Become idiot tourists? Or… bounty hunters? No, he needed more, a purpose. Revenge was his purpose his whole life, why could it not still be? Revenge on Kenobi. And perhaps…? A shiver of fear ran through him and he dared not follow that thought to its conclusion. For now he would hunt Kenobi, and this time it would be the Jedi who would fall.


The physical therapy for Maul was every day so far, and Zaiya was pleased with his progress. It was swift and efficient, like everything else he did. She realised she could no longer put off the inevitable. Soon she would not be able to contact her ARCs through Republic channels, and she began to feel remorse for the moment when she must disappear from their lives. Worry burrowed into her mind and she had to wonder if her absence would impact them negatively. Surely not, one woman in an army of their own brothers? She would hardly be missed. Still, she had prepared something for the moment Maul was able to leave, which would be any time now.

Alpha had been able to tell something was different, she'd caught him staring at her with narrow suspicious eyes multiple times now, and though he didn't say anything… he didn't have to.

She'd taken to working with her hands, marking runes for practice, running knife training programs or more recently, she had taken to fiddling with Maul's lightsaber. It was usable though damaged, and she had been taught how it went together through mutual meditation. As a gift in celebration of his recovery, she had made some minor modifications, closing up the main housing and protecting the crystal for one. It still looked like his saber, though there was a blackened metal extension to the hilt, adding length and a better balance, though it still needed a full rebuild in order to be as functional as it once was. The saber was currently hidden in her jacket, ready to present to Maul once she visited him later that evening.

She had hoped her tinkering with it might let that all too familiar sense of dread ease from her, but to no avail. She'd felt it before and this time she decided to let Alpha in before it got too strong.

Security had been increased and when he had questioned her, she'd confessed some of her unease to him.

"Do you remember how I had the place on alert only minutes before the invasion?" she'd said. Alpha had nodded.

"How did you know?"

"It's a weird sensation, a feeling of dread, it had been growing for weeks."

"So it's like the Jedi?"

"Not quite though as I understand it, Nightsister magick is similar to the Force." It wasn't a lie but she could not really tell him everything. Even though she wanted to. "I've had the feeling in the past and now it's back."

"Another invasion?" Zaiya shook her head.

"I can't say. I don't know the specifics but… something is coming."

"Helpful." Alpha snorted, then looked up. "Can you tell the General?" he asked, in reference to Shaak Ti.

"The Jedi are already suspicious of me, I don't need further scrutiny. What I do need is for you and your brothers to be safe." The clone Captain laid a big warm hand on her shoulder.

"If anyone can make sure of that, it's you," he chuckled.

Though Zaiya was less sure about it. She supposed that she could at least get the men ready. The upcoming training session could certainly assist in that, it kept her mind occupied at least.

"I think you boys will be the ones to decide that," she replied, "it's your minds, your skills and your own instincts that will win battles, I can only direct you. I can't fight for you."

"I know," he nodded. "But you know what I mean."

"I appreciate it."

"Yeah. Well, enough moping, let's get these boys moving, they can't win any battles sitting around with their thumbs up their shebs," Alpha grumbled.

"Eloquent as always, Captain." He grunted in an amused tone, a smirk on his lips.


Notes:

Hello my lovely friends!
I have been working very hard this last week. I have been writing a lot! It's not been easy but I am trying my hardest. As is so happens, you may have noticed, we are nearing our 100th chapter! There are a few weeks to go, but in preparation, I am going to have another Q&A for our 100th Chapter special.
If you have questions or anything you want to send in, leave a comment and let me know your question, I will compile them and put it altogether to post here when the 100th Chapter is posted. Questions about characters, or the story (I won't post spoilers of course), or clarification etc, let me know and I will do my best to answer all of them!

That being said, some of you may realise where this moment falls in the Clone Wars timeline, and the fluff has been fun... Anyway!
Maul has his legs back! We made it! I wonder what shenanigans they will get up to now he can run around like he used to? Hmmmm... Though he might need the tattoos or else he will feel nakie I think. Poor Maul, he has been through a lot.

As always I love feedback, comments of all kinds! It keeps me going and it's really you guys that help me feel motivated to work harder and push myself to write more. I love you guys, thank you so much! Next week, we get a little preamble with the clones, and the beginning of the Second Invasion of Kamino... How do you think that will go?
Until next week my lovelies! 3