After The Storm

Chapter XIII

Eight months had passed since Qui-gon's re-knighting, and eight months had passed since Qui-gon and Obi-wan had seen each other. Qui's decision to join Special Forces held true through his meditations and so he had done as the Force guided him.

In those eight months Qui-gon had gone through the rigorous training of his chosen field. He had been battered and bruised, more than once feeling like he would never walk fully upright again. Then, after the training, he was immediately sent on his first mission.

The mission had been a long struggle, but it ended well, very well. The agents that were part of the mission had been granted a month leave, and Qui-gon fully intended to spend it with his Obi-wan.

Stepping off the tiny transport, all Qui could think of was his much missed lover. The desire to see, touch, taste, smell, and just be with Obi put a bit of speed in the Special Forces Jedi's step. He made his ways through the temple at the top speed that was appropriate. Still he managed to get a few raised eyebrows at his passing.

Reaching Obi's door, he keyed in his personal code and walked into the apartment. Silence greeted him. "Obi? Ani? Anybody here?" and silence was again his only answer. With a sigh he tossed his pack onto the divan and made his way to the kitchen to fix some tea.

As he stepped back into the living area, he was exposed to a man, covered in red and black tattoos, naked other than a pair of sleep pants, stretching as he came out of Obi's bedroom. After tamping down on the instant rush of anger that threatened to overwhelm him, he cleared his throat.

The tattooed man froze in his tracks and snapped his attention to Qui-gon. "Oh, you must be Qui-gon Jinn. Obi-wan said you would be coming back soon." The man's voice was deep and thick. It reminded Qui of Alderaani cocoa.

"Yes, I am Qui-gon, my question is who are you, and where is Obi-wan?"

"Forgive me, you startled me and seem to have caused my manners to disappear." He smiled, exposing sharp teeth. "My name is Maul, Tren'Maul. I'm a friend of Obi-wan's."

"Obviously." Qui couldn't help the sneer in his voice.

Maul tilted his head, not understanding the sudden hostility, and then it snapped into place. "No, no, I think you have the wrong impression. Obi and I are just friends. He let me stay here while he and Anakin are out on a mission."

"Strange, I don't remember you, and Obi-wan hasn't mentioned you in any of our communications."

"Actually we only met in the last ten. I am from the temple on Iridonia. I came to Coruscant to teach a class in molecular physics and my quarters here aren't ready yet. Obi-wan and I met in the dining hall and after talking he told me I could stay here rather than in the guest quarters."

Qui-gon sighed and shook his head. "Forgive me Knight Maul, I have been away too long, and working in the line I do, you can't help but become a bit paranoid."

The Zabrak smiled. "Perfectly understandable, I don't think I would have reacted any different in the same situation. Let me get dressed and I'll fix us some breakfast."

"That would be most appreciated, I haven't had real food in some time." Qui smiled at Maul then turned back into the kitchen to wait while he dressed.

Over breakfast Qui learned several things. First, Obi and Ani would be returning that evening from a short mission of overseeing a treaty signing. Obi-wan gushed over Qui-gon to his friends (much to Qui's discomfort). Anakin had grown another inch in his time absent. Maul was an excellent cook, and rather nice to talk to.

The two of them were finished eating and were settling their meal with a mug of tea. "Tell me of the Temple on Iridonia." Qui said over his mug.

"There really isn't much to tell. Life is much simpler there. We toil the land as much as we do our minds."

"Sounds lovely."

"It is, but it is also rather boring." Maul smiled into his mug. "You can only commune with the Force for so long before you wish to do something with it."

Qui couldn't help the chuckle that bubbled out of his throat. "You do have a point. Even as connected with the Living Force as I am, there are times when I just want to do something."

"Sometimes I think they try to make us droids, but we are human, we need change"

"Precisely why I am in SF. First time around I was a Knight, and I enjoyed it, but this time I thought I would try something different. The Force led me to SF, then told me to stay there."

"Obi-wan doesn't like you being there."

"I know, but I go with the will of the Force. I always have."

Maul smiled. "Even when the Council says different."

Qui shook his head and rolled his eyes, grinning. "Obi-wan does talk too much"

"It shows how much he truly loves you." Maul said as he rose to gather the breakfast dishes. "I think it is sweet."

"Sweet?" Qui scoffed as he gained his feet to help. "Not quite the word I would have used, but I suppose it would work."

Maul grinned and chuckled softly. "I think it works very well. I can get these, if you wouldn't mind starting another pot of tea. I have to go to class soon, and I need as steady of nerves as possible." The tattooed man smiled. "The young Jedi mind absorbs things like a sponge, but some of the questions they come up with." He shook his head. "You have to have the patience of a Labroken sloth."

"I can imagine. I think I can manage tea."

The two men set to their separate tasks, a comfortable silence built between them. If Qui-gon noticed the rather dark look Maul gave him as he put the kettle on to warm, he didn't say anything about it.

Chapter XIV

After seeing Maul off to his class, and unpacking, Qui spent some time catching up on the Temple gossip as he sifted through his correspondence. A short com to Mace confirmed Maul's story about being a visiting Knight teaching a class. After talking to Mace, Qui felt the need to spend some time in meditation. Opening the door to the balcony, Qui sank to his knees and quickly fell into a deep meditative trance, replenishing his body and mind.

His internal clock told him that several hours had passed, even as the soft lips under his ear pulled his mind back from its travels. A smile played along his lips as he reached back to pull his molester into his lap.

An impishly smiling Obi-wan can into view as he was bodily dragged into his lover's arms. "I was beginning to wonder if I had lost my touch. I have been trying to rouse you for almost ten clicks."

Qui hushed his beloved with a kiss born of too long a separation. ~By all the little gods I have missed you my own.~

~And I you.~ Obi gently broke the kiss and gazed into Qui's midnight orbs. "You look good, taste better."

Qui chuckled, a grin splitting his features. "You can look and taste all you wish love, I am here for a month."

Obi-wan let loose a very un-Jedi like squeal of delight, "A month? After your first assignment? You must have saved an entire planet."

"Basically." Qui laughed. "But you know I can't give you any details."

Obi sighed softly. "I know."

Qui-gon gently stroked Obi's cheek, sadness creeping into his eyes. "I'm sorry my love, but the Force led me to this path, so I follow it."

"I know Qui, I just don't like any type of secrets between us, even those related to our fields."

"Have you thought anymore of joining me once Ani is knighted?"

"I have, but I haven't made a decision yet."

"I won't rush, or pressure you then." Qui smiled softly, stroking Obi's cheek again. "At least not in that decision. You taking me to your bed however…." He captured Obi's lips in a soul-searing kiss.

With a groan, Obi wrapped his arms around the bigger man, and fully settled into his embrace. ~I can't very well take you to bed with you taking my breath away.~

Qui's mental chuckle reverberated through their bond. ~Well then I guess I should let you up.~

~Only if you really feel the need for a bed.~ With a gentle Force-nudge, Qui was suddenly on his back, Obi-wan stretched out over him. "Anakin is spending the night with Maul in the guest rooms, we have the place to ourselves until morning. I want you right here."

Qui groaned and nipped at Obi's collarbone. "You can have me however and wherever you wish my own."

Obi carded his fingers through Qui's silken hair, relearning the texture and feel of it. He raised a handful of it to his face, breathing deeply of the earthy scent that was all Qui-gon. A gentle moan escaped his lips as Qui's hands slid down his sides. "Skin, I need to feel your skin." There was a note of desperation in his voice.

A growl of need rumbled through Qui's chest, vibrating into Obi. He quickly slid his hands between their bodies and untied the sash of his outer tunic. Obi-wan just a quickly pushed it from Qui's shoulders his mouth finding the sensitive point where neck met shoulder. Qui knew from the sudden, exciting pain there would be a mark there.

Pushing off, Qui turned them over and straddled Obi's hips. Sitting up, he finished removing his tunics and started on the ties of Obi-wan's, his own desperate need for the feel of flesh on flesh making his hands tremble some.

"Force I have missed you." Qui growled.

"And I you my heart."

No more words were spoken, the men communicated through touches and the murmurs of passion. Their time spent apart spiking their coupling to a desperate need for release. Moving with Force enhanced speed, Qui moved down Obi's body, removing the smaller man's breeches as he did. Only taking time to remove his own trousers, and to lay a kiss on the leaking head of Obi-wan's arousal, Qui quickly re-straddled his lover. In one motion, he took Obi into his body as his head fell back, a moan of pure bliss ripping past his throat.

Obi-wan gripped his lover's hips, arching to meet their joining. There was no gentleness in their loving, only raw need. With each thrust they renewed their lightly slumbering bond, relearned each other's feel, sounds, and smell. As completion rushed toward them, they gripped each other, body and mind, each pulling the other with him over the edge. With dual cries of triumph and reunion, the two Jedi fell into the luscious oblivion of orgasmic bliss.

Midnight found Qui and Obi lying in each other's arms in Obi's bed, talking softly. "Anikin is getting so close Qui. I think I will be suggesting the beginning of his final trials within the year."

Qui smiled and cuddled Obi closer. "It isn't easy letting go is it?"

"No." Obi said with a touch of sadness in his voice. "I thought I would be ready to send him out on his own, with a touch of ready to be rid of him by now. But the longer we are together as a training team, the more I would like to keep him with me as a partner for life."

Qui nodded. "I thought I would just curl up and die when I cut Tal's braid. However, I obviously didn't, and now I follow her career with quiet pride."

"Pride my love? Isn't that emotion a path to the dark side?" Obi gently teased.

"Only if it is undue my own." Qui said with a chuckle and a kiss to Obi's tawny head. "And in Tal's case, it is not."

"True, very true."

The two cuddled in silence for some time before Qui spoke again. "Love, tell me about how you met Knight Maul."

"I was wondering when you would get around to asking me that." He turned in Qui's arms so they could speak face to face. "I know he looks so similar to……" His voice trailed off a look of remembered pain crossing his face, making him close his eyes.

It finally clicked in Qui's mind. "The Sith. That was the reason for the instant agitation on seeing him. He looks like the monster that took my life."

Obi nodded. "That is actually what started us talking. The moment I saw him I drew my ‘saber ready to strike him down. If Mace hadn't have been close by, I would have killed him. Once Mace informed me of who he was, and I apologized, Maul and I started talking."

"He is certainly easy to talk to."

"Quite, and we have a lot in common. Despite his training on Iridonia, he is much better at accessing the Unifying Force than the Living Force. He also is known to have visions of the future."

"Interesting. And it doesn't hurt that he has a voice like chocolate." Qui teased.

"Force you should hear him read poetry." Obi shuddered slightly. "It would make you hard just hearing him. It is no wonder he is a teacher, that voice can hold anyone enraptured, even if it is quoting molecular physic equations."

"I see, while I am away, saving the universe, you are here masturbating to physics lessons."

Obi swatted Qui's shoulder. "Only when I am thinking about you."

The two of them shared a laugh, and then Qui kissed Obi. Maul was forgotten for the rest of the night as the lovers reacquainted themselves again, and again, and again.

Chapter XV

"Your right flank guard is down Anakin." Obi-wan's voice echoed slightly through the training sallie. "You are open to a disabling blow."

The young man corrected the stance, and pushed forward with a brutal assault, forcing his opponent to take several steps back to compensate.

"Good, but you are going to tire yourself out too quickly. Don't allow yourself to get aggravated. Anger is a weapon for your opponent, not yourself."

Anakin sighed and let his saber drop, powering it off as he did. "I need a break." He said sulkily as he headed toward the bench that held his towel, and water bottle.

Maul gave Obi-wan an odd look as he allowed his saber to fall and power down. Obi shook his head and rose from his seat to confront his Padawan. "Ani? What is it?"

Anakin ignored his master's question as he took a long drink. He met Obi-wan's eyes as the bottle lowered from his lips. "I'm just tired I guess."

"Undue aggression is not a side effect of sleep deprivation Padawan, something is bothering you."

"I'm just tired." The young man snapped. Then grabbing his towel, he all but ran from the room.

Obi-wan watched his apprentice's hurried exit, then with a sigh he looked at Maul. "Thanks for your help today, I'll contact you later, maybe we can get together for late meal tomorrow."

The Zabrak nodded. "My pleasure." He paused for a moment then continued. "Anakin told me something that might put some light on this."

"Oh?"

"He has been dreaming of his Mother. He thinks she is in some kind of trouble. He wants to check on her, but is afraid that you would be angry with him for it."

Obi closed his eyes and nodded. "I'll talk to him. Thanks Maul." Obi-wan grabbed his own towel and water then made his own way out of the room."

Once the door closed the tattooed man smiled a smile that would cause ice to flow in the veins. "You are most welcome." He said softly. "I do what I can." His low chuckle danced around the empty sallie.

Qui-gon returned to Obi-wan and Anakin's rooms feeling like he had spent the day trying to hold back a herd of raging banthas, when actually the day spent in Council was indeed more tiring. After removing his cloak, he slid into his favorite chair and removed his boots. Only when he had allowed himself to relax some did he notice the Force presence of his lover in the rooms.

Rising once again to his feet, he made his way into the larger of the two bedrooms where Obi-wan knelt in meditation. He stood in the doorway, not wanting to disturb the young Master, waiting for him to surface in his own time.

He didn't wait long. "I need some masterly advice." Obi-wan said softly, not yet opening his eyes.

"I don't know about masterly, but I will try and help." Qui finished entering the room and knelt before Obi, resting his hands on his lover's knees. "Tell me." He said softly.

Stormy eyes opened to meet indigo ones. "Anakin wants to return to Tatooine. He fears for his mother."

"And you feel that he shouldn't?"

"No, that is the thing, I think he should, however there is a very dark cloud hanging over the planet in the Force. There is danger there for him."

Qui-gon nodded. "So do you let him go because it feels correct for him to, or not let him go because there is unknown danger? Have you told Anakin what you have felt?"

Obi-wan nodded. "He says he doesn't feel anything but the need to get to his mother. His vision is clouded in this case."

"Or perhaps you are being a bit paranoid."

Obi chucked, but it was without humor. "Yes, perhaps. Qui, what should I do?" There was an edge of desperation to his voice.

"He is your Padawan my own, but were he mine, I would allow him a chance to make his own decision. A bird doesn't learn to fly if it stays in the nest." Qui reached out and placed his hand on Obi's cheek, his thumb running along the bone under the soft skin. "But you need to decide if the danger you feel there is too much for him to handle."

Obi-wan closed his eyes and leaned into the caress. "If I could go with him I wouldn't hesitate, but I cannot. If I allow him to go, he goes alone or with another Knight. I have been assigned a mission on Talus. It is a simple one that doesn't require my Padawan to join me."

"Well, I would take that as a sign."

The younger man nodded. "I guess I do too, I just wanted to hear someone else tell me I was going to do the right thing."

"Beloved, you have done a wonderful job so far, don't start second-guessing yourself now. Consider this the beginning of his trials. I'm sure the Council will."

"I hadn't thought of it that way. Do you think the Council would be willing to hear me on this point today?"

"Nothing to do but ask." Qui smiled softly at Obi, and as one they rose to put in the com call.

"I feel that sending Anakin to Tatooine could be the first step in his Knight trials. A first solo mission."

The silence of mental communication buzzed around the room. Finally Yoda spoke. "Agree with you the Council does, however, only first step this is, final trial it is not."

Obi-wan nodded. "I understand Masters, and I agree. He is ready to start going out on his own, but I still have more to teach him."

"Learning we always are. More we can always be taught by our elders." Yoda's ears twitched with amusement. "Leave at dawn both of you will. Prepare both of you will. The Force be with you."

Obi-wan bowed to the Council. "And with you." He turned and exited the chamber to find his Padawan.

Chapter XVI

If Obi-wan had known what was going to happen in his absence, he wouldn't have left. Nor would he have let his Padawan go to Tatooine. However, all that was left to do in the aftermath was to pick up the pieces and try to move on, alone, again.

Obi didn't know if it was planned, or simply the will of the Force that he and Anakin's transports left from the same pads, but in retrospection, he was glad that he got to say goodbye. Obi also didn't know what prompted Qui-gon to go with Anakin, or Maul to go with him. They hadn't even discussed it. Qui said he simply work up knowing he had to go and Maul concurred his thoughts were the same. There was no time for Obi to try and talk either of them out of it.

The communication with the Council was short. There were few details as to what exactly happened. Apparently Anakin and Qui-gon found out that Shmi had been captured by a group of Tusken-Raiders. They attempted to rescue her and failed, utterly.

Obi-wan had known the moment each of them passed into the Force. Both bonds were still psychically bleeding in his skull. The force of their deaths had driven him to his knees in the meeting hall of Talus. Once he regained full consciousness, he knew it was too late, his Padawan and lover were gone.

Maul tried to draw from the anguish that poured off Obi-wan in waves, but he found he could not. He knew that he should be silently reveling in the dark, negative emotions, joyous in his Master's first obvious victory. However, what he really wanted to do was comfort Obi-wan, he wanted to make the pain stop and take back all that he helped put in motion. All he was able to do though was be there, silently comforting, for the distraught Jedi.

"Obi-wan, you need to eat." Maul tried to get Obi to take the mug of broth he held out for him. "Please, you are starting to frighten me."

"I don't want it." Obi pushed the offered mug away. "It wouldn't stay down anyway."

"You know, you can be worse than a crecheling when you want to. I will hold you down and force you to eat if I must. I will not have you dropping due to malnourishment when under my care."

Obi-wan glared at Maul, his eyes telling the Zabrak he was in no mood for threats. Maul stared right back making it clear it was a promise, not an idle threat. They sat glaring at each other for some time, but finally it was Obi-wan that looked away. Without another word he took the cup he had just refused and sipped from it. Maul nodded and stood up moving back toward the shuttle's tiny kitchenette.

The sobs that ricocheted through the small shuttle brought Maul back to Obi-wan's side in a rush. Carefully he took the distraught man into his arms, allowing him time to pull away if he wished, but rather than pulling away, Obi-wan dropped the mug to the floor and pulled himself tighter into his fellow Knight's arms, finally allowing himself to mourn. Maul held him, letting him release the pent up emotions without saying anything.

Eventually, as all tears do, Obi-wan's began to dry. His sobs retreating into merely hitched breaths, his trembling subsiding to occasional quivers. He looked up into Maul's face, his hollow eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you." He said softly.

Maul simply nodded and brushed his lips over Obi's forehead before he retreated back into the kitchen. Once there he began running calculations in his mind. They only had a few hours before they were back on Coruscant, and he had much to do. Maul had come to a decision that would not only change his life, but also put it in serious danger.

Obi-wan and Maul didn't even bother to stop at Obi's quarters before going to the Council's chambers, Obi was too desperate to find out more of what happened. He had to know as much as the truth as he could, even if it meant he would have to listen to all the gory details of how the two people he loved most met their demise. He had to know everything; he had to know it was real, that they were really gone.

The two knights were admitted as soon as they arrived. For the first time in Obi-wan's Jedi life, he didn't have to wait in the antechamber to be summoned. This small action spoke volumes of the gravity of the situation, as did the number of people in the room. Besides the full twelve Councilors, there were also the head of Jedi Special Forces, two representatives of the Senate, and a woman Obi recognized as one of the temples best Soul Healers.

Obi-wan moved to the center of the chamber, first bowing to the Council, and then kneeling before them. "What news is there of my Padawan and former Master?"

"We don't have all the details yet Master Kenobi. However it does seem that there is more to the tale then we first were told." Mace Windu answered. "The initial investigation team sent to Tatooine found unusually high Force traces in the surrounding area."

"Force traces? Are you saying they were killed by a Force user?"

"We don't have enough facts at this point to make that assumption. We believe a more in-depth investigation should be conducted."

"I want to be on that investigation team."

"We assumed you would. You have time for a quick shower and repack before the transport leaves."

Maul stepped forward. "I wish to be added to that team. I feel I may have information that may be useful to the investigation." A quiet murmur went through those gathered, as well as a flurry of Force, signaling the silent communication of the Council. This time it was Yoda that spoke. "Go you may, but remain here while Master Kenobi replenishes his supplies you will. Speak with you further we must."

Maul bowed his acceptance then stepped back.

"You depart from pad sixteen in thirty clicks Master Kenobi, Knight Maul will meet you there and the full records of the investigation so far have already been uploaded to the transport's computer."

Obi-wan regained his feet and bowed once again to the Council members. "Thank you Masters."

"May the Force be with you Obi-wan."

The emotion behind the dark-skinned Councilor's words brought the sting of tears back to Obi's eyes. "And with you Master Windu."

Obi glanced at Maul on his way out, pausing a moment at the set to his friend's eyes. Maul simply nodded and flicked his head toward the door, silently dismissing Obi's concern, and telling him to hurry. Obi returned the nod and exited the chamber. He had a feeling of dread as the doors were pulled closed behind him.

Chapter XVII

They brought Maul to the landing pad in chains, both hands and feet shackled. He also wore a Force dampening collar around his throat. Obi-wan opened his mouth to protest the treatment of his friend, but closed it in silence at the small shake of Maul's head.

One of the guards handed Obi-wan a small black box. "It won't kill him, but it will take him to his knees if need be."

"I don't think that will be necessary." Obi said softly.

"Necessary or not Master Kenobi, you have it. My advice to you is to shackle him to his bunk and lock the door."

Obi looked at Maul, questioning in his eyes, but the tattooed man simply shook his head. Obi turned and headed into the ship with Maul following, each step accompanied by the clank of chains.

Both men went to the cockpit, Obi taking the captain's chair, Maul strapping into the co-pilot's seat. Neither man spoke as Obi-wan finished the pre-flight checks.

Finally when the ship hit hyperdrive Maul broke the silence. "You should have killed me in the dining hall that day." His normally silken voice reduced to a mere whisper. "You were right from the beginning."

"I don't understand, what do you mean?"

"I am who you thought I was, sort of. The thing that killed Qui-gon was a clone, my clone."

Obi-wan slowly turned in his seat to face Maul. "You are telling me you are a Sith?"

The Zabrak nodded once. Obi-wan was up out of the chair in an instant. "You, you know what happened to them don't you! You had something to do with it?"

"No, not exactly. I know where they are, but this wasn't part of what Sidious told me of his plans. I don't know what he is doing anymore." He looks up at the furious man standing over him. "I know you don't trust me now, and you have no reason to, but I'm telling you, I am on your side, I want to help, I want out."

"Help? HELP?! How can you help? You are part of the reason this is happening!" Obi fumed as he started to pace the small cockpit.

Maul bowed his head, his voice soft, even broken. "Yes, I am part of it. Yes, this is partly my fault." He lifted his head to look at his pacing partner. "But because of that fact, I am the best chance you have of finding them."

Obi-wan was quiet, continuing to pace, but slowly his gait started to calm and eventually he came to stand before Maul again, quiet acceptance turning his features into a mask of serenity. "I cannot forgive you for this. However, without your help my search will take valuable time." He took Maul's hands into his own and released the locks on the cuffs. "Betray me, and I will kill you," he said, his voice a flat line of fact.

"Of that I have no doubt," Maul said as he rubbed the circulation back into his hands. "I will not betray you a second time."

"We'll see." Obi-wan returned to the captain's chair, leaving Maul to remove the ankle shackles on his own and not removing the Force Dampening collar. He watched the stars streak by in silence as Maul finished freeing himself. Once the Zabrak was settled he asked without turning to him. "Where to?"

"Where it all started, Tatooine."

Two sets of eyes watched the wall-covering monitor that exposed the prisoner to them. Inside the cell the prisoner continued his exploration of the structure, searching for a weakness, a means of escape.

"See, he is beginning to become frustrated, soon he will be ready for the next phase. Once he realizes there is no flaws in the structure he will begin to despair and the seed will be set."

"As you say my Master. He is weak, he should break easily."

"Do not underestimate him. He has his training to fall back on. Jedi are notoriously strong willed. This one will take time to turn, but because of this, the pleasure will be all the more great."

The apprentice turned to the master, pushing back his hood as he did so, exposing chestnut hair and deep blue eyes. "But I was a Jedi, Master. Was I so hard to turn?"

Darth Sidious chuckled and tapped his apprentice on the forehead. "You were an exception my apprentice. Remember, I made you; the seed was planted as you grew in the test-tube. You belonged to me during creation. All that was needed was the awakening."

Darth Tigris nodded his acceptance. "Of course, my Master."

Anakin finished his third pass along the perimeter of the small cell, once again finding no flaws in the makeup of the little room. He slapped the wall in frustration. "How can a room be so Sith-spawned perfect? There has to be something, a small crack, anything."

He continued to mumble to himself as he began a fourth pass. And again he found nothing. He slumped to the floor, gently banging his head against the padded wall behind him. The lights were starting to get on his nerves. Their brightness combined with the stark white of the padding that covered every inch of the room caused a glare that was inches from being blinding. He closed his eyes in an attempt to escape the visual noise of the room, but even there the lights found their way in, turning his vision from black to a blood red.

He slipped from sitting to lying on his side, one arm coming up to cover his abused eyes. There, darkness at last. In the created darkness, Anakin's mind was able to begin piecing together the events of what brought him to this desolate room.

The trip to Tatooine was uneventful, if hurried. He and Qui-gon had spent most of the trip talking about how his training was coming along. There had been an air of tension the entire way, but it was ignored.

Once they reached the desert planet their first stop was Watto's shop. The Toydarian told them the last place he knew Shmi Skywalker was, the Lars farm. There he and Qui were informed that Shmi had been missing for days. She had gone out to check a moisture regulator that was malfunctioning and had not returned. Anakin's stepfather, Cliegg Lars, had searched for her, but to no avail.

Striking out on their own, Ani and Qui had traced Shmi to a clan of Tusken Raiders. In the darkest part of the night, they had gone into the small nomadic village to rescue her, and from that point on Anakin's world had turned upside down.

The rescue plan was simple, use the cover of night, and Jedi stealth to infiltrate the camp, grab his mother and be gone before the Tusken even knew they were there. However, nothing ever works as planned.

They had placed Shmi's location in the center tent. The two Jedi made it in without detection, but once inside the structure they were met with something neither of them expected, another human, Senator Palpatine to be exact.

The man smiled at them as they entered, his appearance and utter lack of surprise informing Qui and Ani that they were expected.

"Welcome Knight Jinn, Padawan Skywalker." The Senator's voice was smooth as silk, and as fake as smuggler's gold. "I think it is due time we met."

Qui-gon had tilted his head in questioning, and then finished entering the tent to take a seat offered by Palpatine. "This is a rather odd meeting Senator. I would not have thought a Tusken camp would be a typical resting place for one of your status."

"You might be surprised where one such as myself claims as their own. Anakin, please, come in, be comfortable. Your mother is quite safe. Resting peacefully in fact."

"I would like to see her."

"All in good time, all in good time."

Anakin took the offered seat, but he remained sitting on the edge, tensed and ready for action in a moment's notice if need be. Palpatine chit chatted, as if the situation were entirely normal, and much to Anakin's surprise, Qui-gon joined in the banter.

As the two older men spoke of unimportant things, Anakin watched a change come over his fellow Jedi. Something in Qui's posture changed, his breathing became erratic, and his eyes took on a strange glint. Had Anakin not witnessed the change for himself, he wouldn't have believed that the person sitting beside him had ever been Qui-gon Jinn.

Suddenly the conversation ended, and silence loomed through the small structure. The hair on Ani's neck stood up as he felt a dark stirring in the Force. His hand had moved to his ‘saber. Then, his world went black.

When he came too, he was in this room. That had been several hours ago. In that time no one had entered, nor had he been given any sense of where he was or why.

Anakin slowly sat back up, and looked around his small prison. He looked straight into the only object in the room, a camera attached to the high ceiling.

"You know he will come for me," he said to the unseen eyes watching him. "And when he does, he won't be alone."

"I'm counting on it," Darth Tigris said to the screen before him, a slow sneer dancing along his lips.

Chapter XVIII

After six hours of silence, Maul fell into a fitful doze. Visions of his own death assaulted his restless mind, each scenario more horrid and bloody than the ones before. It was Obi-wan calling his name and gently slapping his face that finally brought him back to the waking world.

"Maul. Maul! MAUL!"

The tattooed man's eyes snapped open as a scream of pure terror ripped from his throat. Maul reached out and caught Obi's tunics in a death grip, pulling the young Master closer to him.

"He knows we are coming."

"What? Maul, you were dreaming, that's all. It was just a dream."

"No, Sidious knows, and he knows of my betrayal. I am heading to my own death, at my former Master's hands." Maul's hands slid from Obi's tunic. His eyes slid to the side, unable to continue looking at the man he had fallen in love with, when that man looked back with pity, anger and mistrust in his eyes. "He knows Obi-wan. He knows, and is waiting."

Obi shook his head and laid a hand on Maul's shoulder. The gesture was meant to be comforting, but when Maul flinched away, Obi knew it hadn't been. "Then it is his own downfall he waits for, not yours."

Maul sighed. "You don't understand, he is in my head. I have endangered you more by my very presence." He reached up and fingered the dampening collar. "I can't fight him with this thing on. He has full access to my mind."

Obi-wan took a step back, suspicion coming to his features. "I am not that easily duped. The collar stays, at least for now. If you are telling the truth, then all this Sidious knows is we are coming. He will learn no more. I will not be discussing any further details with you."

Maul wanted to protest, to convince the Jedi there was more to fear if the collar remained. However, he knew it would be useless, Obi-wan's doubts were rightfully founded. Maul was a Sith, and not to be trusted.

The two men locked eyes for a moment, stormy green holding suspicion, gold holding defeat. Maul looked away first.

"So be it. But, tell me NOTHING of your plans. Sidious already knows I am helping you, so I will help in the only way I know how, I will tell you everything I know."

With a nod, Obi returned to the pilot's chair. "Tell me everything. Leave nothing out, even if you think to spare me pain, or you think the information is trivial." Maul waited until the Jedi was settled, then after a calming breath he began to tell the plans of Sidious, as he knew them.