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Chapter Text

It didn’t start when Obi-Wan died.

It might have started on Geonosis when Dooku took his arm and the Force was filled with a smoky chill. It might have started on Tatooine when he had first brought that cold within himself to cool the flames and give him clarity in agony. It might have started any one of the countless time he’d heard the word 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘦 whispered as he walked passed or trained and the cold whispered back 𝘫𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴. It might have started on Naboo when the doors had opened to reveal red veined gold eyes glowing beneath a black hood and an arctic wind had blasted forth through the Force. It might have been even earlier than that, some barely remembered moment on Tatooine.

It didn’t matter that it hadn’t started with Obi-Wan’s death though, because it was his death which had brought the cold to stay; that agonising ripping sensation in the Force as their bond was brutally severed no matter how tightly Anakin clung to the frayed edges and desperately tried to fit them back together. No longer did its gentle comfort visit him in weak moments. Now its fury savaged him as every spark of anger and flinch of pain that he had shoved down for his inability to release it imploded into a vortex which pulled in the cold in unending waves.

In its embrace he was focused, fearless; unstoppable. The Council forbade him from chasing after the scum who killed his only friend, 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 the cold hissed, but the Chancellor understood. Understood the burning, consuming need to 𝘥𝘰 something.

The bartender was a coward. A mere grip upon his throat and he told everything, as pathetic as it was useful he sneered to himself. And thanks to the ship dealer’s racket he had caught his prey, this time with no duty to take him alive.

The cold provided a vision of Hardeen held up with the Force, Anakin’s mental fist closing around his trachea as his feet kicked and scraped the ground and his hands clawed at the intangible grip upon him.

Anakin frowned at that and shook his head, dispersing the feeling and dismissing the image. Hardeen had to die for what he’d done but Obi-Wan would never forgive him if he did it that way.

Anakin saw their ship ahead, trying to fly away and the world narrowed to only them. He wouldn’t allow it. Increasing speed he brought the shuttle down violently on the top of their ship, to bring it down or force them to land. They kept flying and a Duros with rocket boots joined them in the skies.

Anakin growled and gave the controls to Ahsoka before jumping out into the air toward Bane. The bounty hunter tried to move out of the way but Anakin caught him midair and punched him, sending them both careening down.

Regaining control Bane flew in jerking patterns attempting to shake Anakin off and took several more hits before managing to do so. Using the Force to control his fall he landed atop the escapees ship and drew his lightsaber in a flash to deflect several blaster shots from Bane back at him.

The hunter dodged the shots and fired a cable which wrapped around his body and trapped his arms at his sides. Anakin charged Bane, using the Force to dodge blaster fire, and angled his lightsaber to cut the cord and free his arms. With a lunge aided with the Force he brought the blue plasma blade up in a graceful slash that caught Bane’s boot and sent him flying off in uncontrolled loops with the suddenly asymmetrical propulsion.

With that one dealt with Anakin brought his saber back down to cut through the roof and had only enough warning to turn toward the threat before he was tackled in the stomach and thrown back, losing the weapon.

Flipping back up he met a thrown punch with a forearm and gave a return hit to the middle, hearing a sharp intake of breath before he swung again at the head with his metal hand. The nerveless durasteel felt nothing at hitting the hard helmet but the man fell back, the headgear flying off.

Seeing the tattoo curling around his eye Anakin felt black rage pump through his veins in thick pulses and his red tinted vision tunnelled to focus solely on the man who’d killed his friend.

Stalking closer with sure steps despite the shuddering of the ship beneath them he grabbed Hardeen with the Force and lifted him up, punching him in the stomach again with the full force of his metal hand and letting him fall, satisfaction filling him at the grunt of pain the scum made at the blow.

Advancing again he dodged a sudden blaster shot and used the Force to tear the weapon away and throw it into the void, gripping the man by the collar and lifting him up with his feet dangling he suddenly kicked out and hit Anakin in the knee causing him to drop Hardeen and stumble away.

He stumbled more as the ship gave the hardest shudder yet and began to descend too fast. As they went beneath the fog cover he lost sight of the scum and when the ship hit the ground with a violent crash he was thrown free and hit the ground hard, the air knocked out of him.

Heedless, he rose quickly and searched the Force for the man he was looking for and with great leaps he sped towards him. Emerging from the fog like a nightmare he found the man on all fours and violently kicked him in the ribs launching him to land on his back.

The hunter groaned but jumped back to his feet and took a fighting stance. Anakin sneered at him and felt another wave of anger flow through him as he threw himself forward with a heavy blow.

The man dodged to the side and hit him in the ribs, and Anakin caught him with a glancing forearm as he struck out following with another strong punch. Hardeen went with the momentum and rolled away and came up to find Anakin already coming at him.

He rolled again and swept Anakin’s legs, grappling with him until he ended up on top throwing punches down at the Jedi. With a growl from Anakin and a grunt from Hardeen they were flipped over and Anakin rained blows down.

With a violent shove the hunter knocked him away and jumped on his back wrapping arms tight around his neck. Anakin choked and struggled relentlessly but he couldn’t free himself.

And the he heard it, an urgent whisper in his ear. "𝘈𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯, 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦,” and the Force cleared for a moment to reveal the shining star of Obi-Wan radiating from where Hardeen sat.

Shock and confusion overtake him and he cannot resist when the silent command comes through the Force. 𝘚𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱. His vision darkens and the last thing he sees before it goes black is a flash of green.

—

He comes back warmer than he has been in days, a wild joy rushing through him that his friend is not dead. And then it turns to ash in his mouth and the warmth is driven from him by a snap freeze of hurt and rage.

They kept this from him? Allowed him to believe Obi-Wan was dead? Obi-Wan allowed it? He remembers the pain as their bond was snipped and it hurts worse to know that it had been done intentionally by his Master. How could he do that to him?

Ahsoka’s gentle “are you alright Master” is all that keeps him from screaming. He waves her off, unable to speak, and they return in silence to the shuttle. The trip back to Coruscant is just as silent.

When he meets with Yoda and Windu the rage stirs in him again but he clamps it down and his voice is cold as he demands to know why it was kept secret. 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴, were Yoda’s words while Windu looked down his nose at him.

Anakin paced like a caged rancor aboard the ship to Naboo. The Chancellor warranted a Venator, a ship named 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭, so it was easy to find a secluded corner to be away from everyone else.

Fear and rage burned through him, worrying for and hating his Master at the same time. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t let them go, couldn’t let him go. The cold reached out to him and he allowed it closer, just enough to cool the flames.

Now more focused he stopped pacing and took a deep breath, and let it out with a huff. He dropped into a meditative pose, and gingerly fell into the Force.

It was cold, colder all the time, but it still ran to him and wrapped him in its embrace. It was gentler than it often was, a comforting blanket rather than smothering.

And then it wasn’t. Pins pricked every inch of skin as if he was submerged in an ice bath and before him stood a figure in black robes, yellow eyes observing him from beneath a heavy cowl and the Force cried to him in warning.

Anakin drew his lightsaber with shaking hands and a cruel mouth became visible, twisted in amusement. A hand obscured by long sleeves made a gesture and the weapon was torn away from him, disappearing into the black as the Sith advanced. The Force turned dark and the man’s shadow stretched and twisted to reach him with sharp outstretched claws, crawling up him with burning cold and covering him in that same darkness.

Anakin cried in fear as a shadow hand grasped his face and his lungs burned and he shot back to his place on the Venator. His eyes darted back and forth and he scrambled to his feet, backing into a corner.

Seeing nothing his panicked breathing slowed and he rubbed his flesh hand down his face. He was exhausted, he hadn’t slept since Obi-Wan died. Pretended to die. He was tapping into the Force just to keep himself standing, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to rest until this was over.

—

The plan unfolded without a hitch, barring a minor electrocution. It was painful but it had nothing on Dooku’s Sith lightning that carried with it the hateful desire to destroy and inflict injury.

The first problem came when Anakin reached out to the Chancellor only to discover with a punch to the face that it was a fake. The real Chancellor had been taken.

Fear struck him as they raced after the fleeing bounty hunters, but they subdued them easily. Anakin was filled with disgust as he held the Faleen at saber point and he begged for his life. Coward.

With the danger passed Anakin could finally speak with Obi-Wan. He wanted an apology, understanding. Even a silent mending of their bond would’ve been enough. Instead he blindly defended the Council’s decision and the jagged edges that once connected them remained unmoved.

Anakin lashed out with all his useless grief and anger and still Obi-Wan didn’t get it, so he stormed away to bring the Chancellor back to the Palace for the night before he would depart the next day.

Anakin brooded in silence as he escorted the leader of the Republic, not noticing the air becoming cooler and cooler until their breath was nearly visible until they entered the dark dining hall and he saw Dooku sitting at the head of the table.

Presented with an acceptable target his rage burst forth like an explosion. Dooku’s lips moved but he didn’t hear a word over the buzzing whispers in his ears. A magna guard struck him with its electrified staff but he felt nothing through the power that leapt to him and flowed through his veins.

The droid tried to hit him with a fist but he caught it with his own and ignited his lightsaber to sever the arm before bisected it. He turned to its companion in a fluid motion and destroyed that one as well.

The cold was a welcome relief from the burning hate as it suffused his being and he felt more centred and comfortable than he had in weeks. He turned to face the Sith and ordered the Chancellor to flee, not bothering to listen to his reply or watch to ensure he did so.

He effortlessly channeled the Force to his legs and leapt at the older man, bringing his blue blade down like an avalanche on his opponent’s steady red. The crimson plasma wavered only slightly under the weight of the attack but it was enough, Anakin smelled blood and unleashed a furious combination of Djem So hacks.

The graceful Makashi turned away every strike but it was a poorer and poorer counter with each duel and soon the old man began to retreat. Anakin bared his teeth and pursued, Dooku opening the distance to lift the cutlery and dishes and fling them at him.

Both of Anakin’s hands remained on his hilt and without a gesture the projectiles halted midair, the Jedi briefly noting a reflection of two yellow eyes in a polished plate along with a blue blade before he carelessly swept them aside. He had no need of them.

Chairs came flying next but Anakin merely shrugged from side to side and avoided them as he stalked closer to the Sith, eventually getting close enough to reengage.

Blue and red met at blinding sped with flashes of green sparks. Elegant and precise jabs and slashes against brutal, efficient hammer blows. A particularly vicious attack saw Dooku stumble backwards and bring a chair between them, but Anakin attacked anyway, piercing the carved wood with ease and pressing hard to get to the Sith who took refuge behind it.

Over the back of the chair the Jedi saw Dooku grimace in concentration before his hand splayed out and the chair was shover back with all his strength, taking Anakin with it. He recovered instantly, back on the attack in moments as he drove the old man past the smiling Chancellor to fall backwards against the steps leading to the dais.

He holds himself up with one hand while the other raises his red blade in a weak guard and Anakin can 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦 his desperation. He jumps and falls upon him with terrible strength, nearly buckling his arms.

The Jedi is merciless as he brings his blue lightsaber down in unforgiving, two-handed slashes to break his opponent’s weak defences and kill him. The cold’s whispers become excited and he can finally make out what they say.

𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭

Anakin agrees wholeheartedly and allows their blades to lock, leaning down to wrap the cold metal fingers of his metal hand around Dooku’s warm, soft neck and though it is perfect that he might die in such a way he knows almost instantly he’s made a mistake.

Dooku lifts the hand propping him up and dark lightning, more intense and agonising than memory can do justice, slams into his unprotected body. He is blasted backwards, sparks flying across his twitching body and he comes to rest on cold stone.

The burning power and the freezing comfort scatter and flee from him and he feels Obi-Wan approach as they do. His Master stopping by his side to ensure Anakin is okay but he simply snaps at him “the Chancellor,” and they run together after him.

Dooku’s taunt rings hollow and yet stirs an impotent fury in Anakin. The feeling does not bring him power or focus as it had minutes previously, instead he feels only fear as he stands beside Obi-Wan on the empty landing platform, the Sith having escaped again.

He had always known what the cold was, had known he shouldn’t entertain it as he did, but it had never worked its way so deep within him. He had never invited it as he had. Surely Obi-Wan would sense it, would bring it to the attention of the Council. Master Windu would like that; his dislike finally vindicated.

But he seemed oblivious. Oblivious even to Anakin’s turmoil or that his own actions were a source. Still their broken bond made no movement towards restoration.

“Do you… sense any more danger, Master,” Anakin asked cautiously.

“No Anakin. I believe this plot has been well and truly foiled,” he said with a small smile at his former Padawan.

“Yes,” Anakin said slowly. “I agree. There is no more danger.” He couldn’t sense it. What he’d done. Anakin’s heart pounded. The cold had returned.

Chapter Text

Anakin stood in the salle and slowly modelled a Djem So kata while Ahsoka followed along. It was the Shien variant, less aggressive than what he favoured himself, but the girl was still young and lacking in raw strength.

Often he had to teach his Padawan in the field, the quiet between battles, but they had received a welcome bit of rest after the attempt to kidnap the Chancellor and he was taking the opportunity to train her more traditionally. As he had been trained.

The illusion that nothing had changed since then was tainted by the emptiness of the salle, and the Temple. With most of the Knights and Masters of the Order leading armies it was emptier and emptier among the grand halls that once teemed with Jedi, and a salle that would’ve been full of proud Masters and eager Padawans when he was younger now hosted only he and Ahsoka.

But it was within where the pretence he wished to carry on was truly broken. Since Naboo he had felt unbalanced. Cold.

He had often felt cold as he acclimated to more temperate climates away from Tatooine, and Dooku’s presence had always left a chill that was slow to fade; but this felt different.

It did not come and pass as a body used to binary suns over endless dunes reacted to gentle temperatures it had scarcely known. It did not linger and hang around him as the shadow of Dooku’s shadow did.

This cold sank deep beneath his skin and bound itself to his very bones. Pierced his mind and the very Force itself and made it sluggish and difficult to command where it had always jumped to his whim.

This chill was not in the air or in the Force or in Dooku. This chill was his own.

He was haunted by the yellow reflection. In every dream, every attempt at meditation, in bad moments with every cursed blink. He had barely noticed at the time. It had seemed so natural, nothing of note or concern.

And it had felt so good. Power rushed through every vein and muscle. Easing his aches, erasing the worries that never seemed to leave. There had been no cold then, the fire of his fury and the cold of the Force in perfect balance. A warmth that smoothed every crease and left him focused and certain.

He came back to himself to find that his movements had changed without his knowing. Instead of a gentle demonstration of Shien blue plasma slashed hard and fast through a brutal Djem So kata, Ahsoka having long given up following and merely watching with a mixture of awe and concern.

Finishing the movement with a vicious beheading stroke so fast it left an afterimage he sighed and deactivated the weapon.

“I’m sorry Ahsoka. I got lost in thought. We can start again now if you want to.”

“It’s okay Master,” she said hesitantly. “Maybe we should meditate.”

Anakin didn’t think that was a good idea for him given the memory and fear that plagued him, but he wouldn’t let her training suffer because of his weakness.

“Alright,” he agreed and sat down. Ahsoka did the same and together they closed their eyes and began breathing evenly.

He felt her sink gently into the Force and float away in its peace, feeling and dismissing a flash of irritation that he always felt for how easy most Jedi found it.

For him it was more difficult. Not to connect with the Force, but to control the connection. Most Jedi could find the first layer and rest in its embrace, never chancing to become lost in its depths.

For Anakin it was a struggle against drowning in it. A mere toe dipped in and the Force would grasp him tight and attempt to pull him down. Drag him to the very bottom where he could scarcely remember who he was, where he could see everything, where he could feel everything. Everything was too much.

Cautiously descending, the world faded away and all was black. He floated alone for some moments before out of the midnight waters the ground became solid beneath his feet and a pair of gold orbs appeared to stare at him from the shadows.

The figure came closer and revealed a black cloak with a deep cowl obscuring all but those burning eyes. A black gloved hand reached out to the side holding a black and chrome hilt and from it sprouted a bloody blade which illuminated the world in its horror.

Planting his feet Anakin drew his own blue weapon and the colours clashed in the air, spreading and struggling for dominance as light never could in the real world.

A dark laugh rang out from the golden eyed creature, ringing with malice and cruel amusement before it raised the red blade in mockery of his own Djem So stance. The light flickered across its face as the weapon passed but it was impossible to recognise. Growling Anakin raised his own weapon and charged.

He unleashed his full strength on the shadowy thing, every strike landing with the unnatural power of the Force and wickedly fast but no matter how quick or powerful the creature always met it with an equally unyielding parry and a counter that became harder to defend against with each exchange.

The laugh came again and Anakin realised with anger that it was playing with him. That he had no hope of beating it.

Unwilling to accept it he threw himself back into the fray, assaulting it with everything he had in a desperate attempt to defeat it.

That was when the tide shifted. No longer did it merely counter his moves, now it went on the offensive in its own right.

Every movement was perfect, leaving no opening. Too fast to dodge, too strong to block. He was losing, giving ground as he never had before the impossible might of the dark figure he faced.

Eventually he was too slow. He knew it before the blow landed, and the thing knew it too. The shadow of the cowl receded just enough to reveal a sharp twist of lips in a mixture of a snarl and a smirk as the bleeding plasma blade pierced his chest and he fell, his blue blade extinguished and a red glow left alone to dominate.

As he lay on the ground, gasping in agony, he looked up to find the hood dropped and his own mirror image standing triumphant above him.

Horror shot through him at the sight of himself standing tall in black robes, a red blade in his hand and glowing golden eyes looking down at him with cruel amusement.

The thing didn’t say a word and Anakin couldn’t as the world crumbled and faded into gray before that crumbled as well and he was back in the salle.

He was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, falling forward to rest his head in his hands as he processed what he had experienced.

Ahsoka, thankfully, remained in meditation and he composed himself as best he could before she awoke herself having sensed him doing the same.

“Are you alright Master?” she asked quietly.

Anakin nodded decisively. “It was only a vision Ahsoka. A dark one for sure, but the future is always in motion,” he said, mostly reassuring himself.

Ahsoka opened her mouth and Anakin begged the Force she wouldn’t ask what he’d seen but before she could say a word his wrist comlink beeped loudly and she closed her mouth.

Looking down at it he saw it was a summons from the office of the Chancellor.

“I’m sorry Ahsoka. The Chancellor has asked for me, I have to go. Ask Obi-Wan for help with your meditation, he’s better at it anyway,” Anakin said as he rose and pulled his brown cloak around his broad shoulders.

And with a final wave Anakin exited the salle and walked quickly through the Temple halls up to the hangars, hopping into a speeder and pulling out into the skies of Coruscant.

Here, behind the controls of a ship and with the sun shining down from where it reflected off great orbital mirrors, the cold almost faded entirely.

It wouldn’t last however, especially now with a new nightmare to haunt every moment of closed eyes no matter how brief. A mere blink and he would be back in the endless darkness, gasping for breath with a hole burned into his chest while his own face looked down at him with yellow eyes and a sharp smirk.

Flying helped less this time, the cold pressing in heedlessly while frost gathered in his joints.

Sharply turning the speeder down toward the Senate building he transmitted his landing codes and entered the gargantuan mushroom.

The building always made him uneasy, a feeling which only grew as the war dragged on. An oppressive darkness hung over it in the Force, and any good was drowned out by a miasma of greed, fear, and anger. It was exhausting to walk to halls and he rushed through them.

He reached the Chancellor’s office quickly and was let in immediately, the elder man sitting behind his desk in rich maroon robes that were nevertheless modest for his importance.

“Anakin, my boy,” the Chancellor greeter warmly. “It is good to see you. I have a matter of potentially grave importance which I believe you can handle.”

“I will do my utmost, your Excellency,” Anakin said with a bow. “What is the problem?”

“See for yourself,” he said, gesturing toward his desk where a holo-message began playing.

It was a grave matter indeed. A red zabrak covered in angular black tattoos made massive by sharp metal legs which ended in four claws. Anakin’s own mechanical hand flexed unconsciously at the sight.

He stood before a line of terrified farmers on their knees, red lightsaber lit in his hand as he promised death and ruin unless Kenobi came to him and alone.

The Sith’s face twisted in hate as he spat the name like the foulest curse before he turned violently and beheaded the shaking civilians with one stroke.

The Chancellor paused the hologram on the image of the Sith and looked at him with a worried expression. “What do you think Anakin? Is this monster who he claims to be?”

Anakin nodded slowly in shock. “Yes I believe so. Based on recordings I have seen it appears to be Darth Maul.”

It was more than the identical appearance to the recordings, the Force itself had cleared and confirmed his identity. This was very bad.

“I had feared as much,” Palpatine said solemnly. “And I called you here for that likely eventuality. There is no one I would trust more than you to deal with the monster and I would dispatch you immediately to defeat him on Raydonia.”

Anakin was conflicted. “He called for Obi-Wan. I could make things worse”

The Chancellor nodded. “A valid concern my boy, and a great show of your character. Still, I trust you to deal with the situation before it comes to that.”

The Jedi bowed his head. “I am humbled by your faith your Excellency. Very well, I will leave as quickly as possible.”

“Thank you Anakin. I know you won’t let me down,” the Chancellor said, already looking relieved.

Anakin felt a rush of pride and with another bow and rushed pleasantries he left with new purpose in his stride.

Returning to the Temple he found Ahsoka in her room meditating on the floor with her lightsabers lying before her.

She opened her eyes at his entrance. “What did the Chancellor want Master?” she asked.

“He had assigned me a mission and I am to leave immediately. It is somewhat time sensitive. Obi-Wan will oversee your training while I’m gone,” Anakin replied, feeling a touch of guilt for leaving her behind and not telling Obi-Wan what was going on. But a battle with a Sith was no place for a Padawan and his Master would only be hurt by the knowledge that the one who killed his own Master was still alive.

“How long will you be gone Master?” Ahsoka asked.

“No longer than a tenday. I will be back soon,” Anakin said confidently. Raydonia was in the Outer Rim but still only a few rotations in hyperspace and he had programmed and defeated a droid to fight like the Sith as a Padawan. It shouldn’t be much more difficult against the real man.

Ahsoka nodded. “Be careful Master,” she said, worried about him going alone when he’d been so distracted recently.

“You know me Snips,” he said with a cocky smirk.

The girl rolled her eyes. “Promise you’ll be careful.”

Anakin sobered. “I will Ahsoka,” he said resting a hand on her shoulder and giving her a real smile.

Satisfied she nodded and smiled back. “See you soon Master.”

And with that he left, rushing back up the halls to the hangar where he kept the Twilight and R2.

Entering the ship he began pre-flight checks and signalled his intent to take off.

Behind him his faithful droid gave a questioning spurt of binary and Anakin looked back at him. “Raydonia. The Chancellor has given me a mission there. Darth Maul has resurfaced and I am to defeat him.”

Receiving the all clear from control and confirmation that all systems were running smoothly at nearly the same time, Anakin lifted off and shot out of the hangar and towards the atmosphere at a speed incongruent with the run down appearance of the former smuggling ship.

Breaking atmo quickly he exited the gravity well of the Coruscant soon after and having passed where the Home Defence fleet was arraying to protect it he had R2 make the calculations and the infinite black interrupted only by pinpricks of far off stars was replaced by the blue swirls of hyperspace.

Chapter Text

The 𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 came out of hyperspace above the idyllic looking planet. The surface swirled with living greens and purples from the space view, but in the Force it was clear that something was wrong.

Most of the planet felt normal, a teeming mass of light from the plants and animals that resided there, but a cyclone of freezing wind emanated from one spot and the darkness was slowly spreading. An echo of fear and pain lashed out from the epicentre, along with the anger and cruelty of the perpetrator.

Taking a shuddering breath Anakin guided his old smuggling ship down towards the disturbance. It had been a silent trip, and Anakin found himself missing his student but he could tell just from the feel that this was not a place for a Padawan. Especially one as young as her. For her own safety it was best she be left behind for this mission.

The ship came to rest in a small clearing with a path cut through the forest to the burning village. Dusk was upon this side of the planet and the visible shadows grew longer and darker just as those in the Force did as well.

Anakin lowered the ramp of the ship and descended the short distance to plant his feet on solid ground, his boots sinking slightly into soft dirt sprinkled with a layer of ash by the wind. Anakin smelled smoke and on the wind came the dark side. He would not lie to himself any longer. Would not hide. He couldn’t afford to. It was not the cold, it was darkness.

Here at the location of the massacre it was thick and oppressive in the air, and it was not his. It pressed down on him angrily and tried to drive him to his knees but he stood tall, breathing deep and taking the Force just as deep within himself. With so much of the dark side it was hard to pierce through, but Anakin refused to draw upon it no matter what relief or power it promised.

As centred as he could be, Anakin strode forth along the path to the decimated farming town. A tall figure was silhouetted against the flames, almost as tall as Grievous though sickly thin rather than broad, and as he approached the figure turned to reveal a bloody red Zabrak covered in black tattoos.

The creature snarled with yellow stained teeth and glared with eyes just the same, a red rim bursting like a star around his pupil. “You are not Kenobi,” the being declared.

“I am not,” Anakin replied, drawing his blue lightsaber. “He had better things to do than deal with you 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.”

“I had thought he would be eager to face me after I gutted his Master while he watched helplessly,” Maul growled, igniting his own red blade. “Perhaps he will find the time when I’ve added another Jedi to the list of deaths on his conscience.”

“That won’t happen,” the Jedi declared firmly.

“Don’t be so certain,” Maul chuckled with an edge of mania, before leaping down from his perch with clawed metal feet to strike down on him.

Anakin met the heavy blow with his own strength, and immediately counter attacked.

The beast met his attacks with a single handed grip, not faltering even under two handed slashes that most of his opponents didn’t dare meet with their own. After allowing him to attack for perhaps a minute Maul finally deflected a blow rather than blocking, Anakin’s momentum causing him to overextend slightly and have a heavy claw dig into his stomach as punishment.

Anakin flew backwards with the force of the kick, landing hard and unable to bring air into his lungs. His torso ached and as he rose unsteadily he was sure he’d at least cracked several ribs.

Trying to draw strength from the Force, Anakin panicked slightly as he could no longer find the light. The Force was now only darkness, as far and deep as he could see. Unwilling to allow any of it within him he slammed down his defences and blocked out the Force, taking an unfamiliar defensive stance as Maul stalked towards him with an unconcerned expression and hate burning in his eyes.

The blade of crimson fire rose as the flames flashed behind him and Anakin wracked his brain for every memory of Obi-Wan’s Soresu. Remembering his Master caused betrayal and anger to flare through him but he shoved it away and focused on the present just in time to deflect Maul’s strike with a manoeuvre that even to him seemed sloppy.

Maul did not take advantage though, seemingly content to drag out the fight and savour his kill. “Who are you to Kenobi?” the creature asked suddenly with suspicion in his eyes.

“It is irrelevant,” Anakin replied with forced neutrality, but Maul saw through him instantly.

“You are important to him,” Maul declared.

Bitterness flashed and Anakin’s outward impassivity couldn’t hide it. “Perhaps a student?” Maul wondered aloud. “He lost a Master to my blade. Would he lose an Apprentice?”

Red flashed and blue barely met it. “I won’t be killing you,” Maul decided. “You will be far more useful as a 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦. Perhaps I will be worth his time then.”

Anakin cried out in denial and once more he was on the offensive. His blue weapon sparked and blurred with the speed and strength of his attacks, and Maul duly retreated though he remained as ever unbothered by the ferocity of his opponent.

Anakin lifted bits of burning wood and threw them at Maul who twirled his weapon to slice through them and deflect a lightsaber strike with a single movement.

He pressed as hard as he could, putting every ounce of strength behind his blows, but he could never pin down the Zabrak who remained always on the move and elusive.

Desperately Anakin again reached for the Force and with it came a tidal wave of icy water, drowning him in its power as he gasped and shuddered. It didn’t matter, he 𝘩𝘢𝘥 to defeat this Sith.

With the power of the Force, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 Obi-Wan’s voice said disapprovingly, Maul retreated truly before hims; but he was unbalanced. His attacks were wild, his movements jerky, and he was terrified of what his next glance in the mirror would reveal.

He pushed that thought away and redoubled his desperate efforts but after the initial boost of allowing the Force in it had become cloudy and sluggish and even as he attempted to tap into it further he lost more of his grip on it. It slipped through his fingers like sand through a fist and he was far too late in sensing the danger to his side.

He shifted only in time to see a massive blur of black and yellow crash into him shoulder first and knock him violently to the ground, his head bouncing off the packed soil and pounding immediately.

He felt icy claws grip his body and saw the ground move away before coming back towards him at speed, and then everything was black.

Chapter Text

Anakin came to a groggy awareness slowly, fading in and out as his limp body was loaded into Maul’s ship. His head thundered and his chest flared with sharp pain at every jostling movement.

When he finally came back for the last time his arms were wrenched painfully behind his back by the larger beast with huge and powerful hands in a vice grip. Maul paced before him with Anakin’s lightsaber attached to his waist and his own unlit in his hand.

“How long do you think it will take for Kenobi to come for you?” the red Zabrak asked, igniting his ruby blade. “When I take this arm?” the plasma motioned to his mechanical arm. “Or the other? Perhaps when I take your legs as he took mine?”

Anakin’s vision was clouded with pain, the Force equally unclear and filled with cold hate and malice. He just couldn’t focus, couldn’t lean on the Force for strength. He was helpless.

The idea ignited rage in him and the heat began to thaw the Force. Maul raised a brow ridge and struck his aching head with a closed fist, nearly sending him back to unconsciousness.

“Kenobi’s Padawan giving in to the dark side?” Maul asked with a note of delight. “He would be so disappointed, perhaps he won’t come for you after all,” he finished with a sneer.

The words made bitterness run through him as he thought of Obi-Wan ripping up their bond and never attempting to repair it, not seeming to understand that he even should. Would Obi-Wan come for him? It was not the Jedi way to be attached, maybe he would recuse himself from the situation.

His anger burned hotter and he struggled to stifle it. He couldn’t give in. Hadn’t it only made things worse on Raydonia? He reached and searched, looking for any light in the Force but he just couldn’t find it. Everything was inky dark water, moved by burning cold currents of hate and pain.

He was brought back by another blow from the bony fist of the Sith. “There is no light for you here 𝘑𝘦𝘥𝘪.”

Maul reignited red fire and raised it. “We’ll start with your left hand,” he said sadistically. “You don’t need hands to wield the Force with, do you?”

The blade came down and the fire inside Anakin roared, dark meltwater first dripping then rushing like a riptide through him and filling him with cold power. He couldn’t lose his other hand.

Maul sensed the change but he didn’t have the chance to react before Anakin shoved out with all his strength and blasted the two Zabraks back. The Jedi called his lightsaber to his outstretched hand as the quickly recovering Maul was just too slow to retain it, igniting it and bursting forward in a flash to attack him.

His offence was brutal and strong, every painful protest from his broken ribs only fuelling him further. Blue plasma blurred and flashed with incredible speed as Maul only barely kept up, but his attack was interrupted by the interference of the other Sith.

A powerful downward hack from a saberstaff came crashing down on him, forcing Anakin to retreat and take a defensive stance against the pair.

They attacked in tandem, never giving him a moment to think or regroup. It didn’t matter. The black currents running through his veins moved without needing his direction, infused him with strength and stamina he’d never known. He was invincible.

He danced through the smallest gaps in their attacks, aware of every movement and intention as sharp eyes never rested. With a sharp flick he severed the larger beast’s hilt in two and left him with a single blade, a weapon he was obviously less familiar with. Anakin bared his teeth.

With one of them unbalanced their teamwork was just out of sync, the same notes in a different key. Maul took the lead, almost putting himself between Anakin and the beast as the yellow Zabrak adjusted. 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. Anakin couldn’t tell if it was his own voice or the voice of the darkness. Perhaps it no longer mattered.

Anakin struck viciously at a gap Maul couldn’t cover and seared the flesh of his arm, feeling vindictive pleasure at his howl of pain and Maul’s growl of anger. The red Sith launched a furious flurry of attacks in response to push him away and Anakin let himself fall back. As long as Maul was focused on the other he wasn’t focused on him.

The yellow one rejoined the fight and Anakin finally remembered his name. Savage. He dismissed the thought. Dead men didn’t need names. He was even sloppier with a wound and once again Anakin’s blade flashed and struck his other arm.

He howled again but this time he didn’t pause, but instead threw himself at Anakin with reckless hate. Anakin laughed and absorbed the offensive easily, dodging an attack with far too much weight behind it and dropping down to burn a leg this time.

The yellow one fell to one knee as Maul caught up and Anakin faced only the true Sith once again. His attacks carried now a personal fury, the desire for vengeance burning in every blow as they duelled around the cargo bay.

Looking past his opponent he saw 𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘨𝘦 stumble to his feet and charge with a roar. Anakin grinned and put Maul between himself and the beast. It continued as if it didn’t see the other Zabrak and he only just got out of the way of the berserker.

Anakin easily dodged the charge and brought his blade down to sever its front cranial horns, and flashed a look to Maul. He was the only true opponent in this fight and he relished the glint of fear that momentarily made itself known as he watched the blue plasma come down.

The two attacked Anakin together again but the yellow one was almost as much a threat to his ally as Anakin with his wild butcher’s blows. The beast was favouring his injured leg and Anakin met Maul’s eyes as he allowed the darkness to guide his weapon and give him a matching wound on the other.

That proved to be too much. With all four limbs burned by blue plasma he collapsed to the metal floor and barely a whimper, his hatred no longer enough to keep him going. Maul’s however was now all consuming. He attacked with the ferocity of both, his crimson blade everywhere as he pushed Anakin back with gnashing teeth and growls of hate and revenge.

His yellow eyes were feral as he relentlessly pressed and pressed and didn’t notice as Anakin turned them around until 𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘨𝘦 was behind him instead of Maul. Anakin focused intently on the Sith and felt anticipation rise. Blue met red with a green flash and then came down with a twirl. 𝘚𝘯𝘪𝘱. A tattooed yellow head rolled from broad armoured shoulders and green mist poured from the cauterised wound.

“Brother!” the scream tore itself from Maul’s mouth and Anakin feasted on the pain in that word, feeling the dark side purr as it sidled even closer to him and gave him even more of its power. Anakin shuddered and struggled to keep his eyes open through the pleasure.

Maul’s eyes became magma and his voice was shrill. “You will pay for that. You will feel my pain as I destroy everything you care for.”

Anakin raised his blade and his grin gave an impression of a predator with bloody teeth, ready for another kill.

He didn’t get his wish. With a final look at the shrunken body of his apparent brother Maul extinguished his blade and ran. Anakin looked for a moment in confusion before fury overtook him and he gave chase.

The door to the cockpit was closed and he watched through the window as Maul furiously worked the controls, Anakin sinking his blade into the durasteel to cut the door open and succeeding just as the cockpit detached and left the rest of the ship open to the vacuum.

Anakin locked his metal hand’s grip on the edge of the door as he struggled and strained to reach for the lever to turn on the ray shield, finally reaching it and collapsing to the floor.

He sat there on all fours for a moment, panting, and then hate burned through every cell as he threw and smashed everything he could grasp with the Force.

When a scream of rage caused the hull to rattle dangerously he began to calm himself, breathing deeply and wrestling the dark side back down with herculean effort that left him panting anew.

He sat down heavily on the metal floor, beside the headless corpse of the yellow Zabrak and thought for the first time of how he coldly executed the man. He’d wanted it, the death and Maul’s reaction to it.

Trembling with trepidation he leaned over and discovered his fear was true. Reflecting off the silvery metal of the floor were two glowing yellow eyes. Rearing back Anakin closed his eyes tight, trying to calm himself, and tentatively checked again. It was the same. He closed his eyes again and rested his forehead against the cool durasteel.