Chapter Text
Savage Opress watched as Maul loaded the green glowing orb into the dispersal mechanism. No larger than a brula seed, it fit snugly into the modified detonator. He looked between the device and Maul with a frown.
"Are you sure about this brother?" Perhaps it was foolish to ask, but the plan seemed risky.
"You doubt Mother Talzin's abilities?"
"No, but…"
"All will go according to plan," Maul assured him. "We will use Kenobi's duchess as bait to draw him out. When he arrives, he'll be subjected to the potion and turn."
"What if Skywalker and his Togruta whelp come along?"
His brother gave a dark laugh. "All the better. Do not forget in our skirmish above Raydonia how Kenobi was unbalanced by the darkness when he gave in to his anger. Imagine what he will do when the Dark Side fully claims him."
"He might turn on the Mandalorians instead."
"Let him. Vizsla and Almec are only means to an end." Darth Maul assured Savage. “Skywalker will be forced to fight him. When the bloodlust takes Kenobi, he will attack them all - his friend, the padawan, and even the duchess. He will wake from the potion to find he has been the instrument of their destruction, and no amount of meditation will be able to save him.”
“You expect him to beat their Chosen One?”
“Even if he does not, we still win. Kenobi will be dead by his own student’s hand,” Maul replied. “Skywalker will be shaken to his core, off-balance, and easier to defeat.”
“You assume Kenobi will attack Skywalker,” Savage commented, drawing a dark smile from his brother.
“Oh, he will.” Maul activated a holo of the area where he planned to spring his trap. “You will be my hidden weapon.” He pointed to a grove of trees that bordered the clearing as he explained. “You will watch from here. If Skywalker does not provoke Kenobi to anger, then you will attack from behind and kill the duchess. I will fuel Kenobi’s rage by blaming Skywalker’s negligence for her death. The Dark Side will do the rest. Kenobi will go for Skywalker, and you will engage the Togruta.”
“Dividing Skywalker’s focus,” Savage supplied, beginning to see the merits of his brother’s plan. It would give Kenobi a chance to defeat his former pupil and fulfill Maul’s lust for revenge. And, even if the Chosen One proved too powerful, his divided attention between his master and his padawan would allow Maul a chance to strike at the Jedi himself. Either way, with the loss of Kenobi or Skywalker, the Jedi Order would be dealt a serious blow. Savage felt a surge of wicked glee course through his system as he met his brother’s malicious grin with one of his own.
A light began to blink on the comm built into his vambrace, and Maul glanced down at it before his mouth stretched even further into a homicidal smile. “It is time.”
>>[]<< >>[]<< >>[]<<
“Be on guard, Anakin,” Obi-Wan ordered as they stepped into the clearing. “This is likely a trap.”
“Death Watch kidnapped the duchess and has demanded a face-to-face meeting,” Anakin dryly replied. “Of course it’s a trap.” Were his eyes not riveted on the figures before them, Anakin was certain Obi-Wan would have shot him a scathing look.
Up ahead, Pre Vizsla and Almec stood waiting with Satine. Anakin was thankful the duchess looked relatively unharmed. He could already feel the varying emotions rolling off of Obi-Wan at the sight of her bound wrists with Almec’s right hand tightly curled about her arm and his blaster aimed at her temple. He could not blame his friend, knowing full well how he would respond should it be Padmé in Satine’s place, but actually sensing Obi-Wan’s reaction was a bit surprising given the Jedi Master usually guarded his feelings against detection. And then, as though perceiving Ankain’s thoughts, the curtain fell, and he could read nothing from Obi-Wan but the man’s usual stoic Jedi calm.
Anakin smothered his own irritation and activated his comm. “You in position, Ahsoka?”
“Yes, Master,” her voice whispered through the link. “Just waiting for the signal.” Obi-Wan gave a nod and the two Jedi advanced toward the three Mandalorians. Each had their lightsabers in hand, but neither ignited their blades for, though Vizsla held the Darksaber, he had yet to activate it.
“That’s far enough,” the governor - Or was it former governor now? - of Concordia commanded.
“We’ve come for the duchess,” Obi-Wan calmly stated. “You will return her unharmed.”
“I will do what I must for Mandalore,” Vizsla replied. “Now, General Kenobi, toss aside your lightsaber so that we might negotiate.” Anakin’s gaze narrowed. Death Watch wasn’t known for making bargains. He didn’t like it, and one glance at Obi-Wan told him the Jedi Master was just as suspicious of Vizsla’s intentions.
“Perhaps the prime minister should lower his weapon as a sign of good faith,” Kenobi suggested. “And I will do the same.” Almec’s grip on Satine tightened as he pressed the muzzle of his blaster in against her skin.
“Perhaps The Negotiator ,” Pre Vizsla spat in return, “should do as he is told if he wishes his duchess unharmed.” Anakin tightened his grip on his own weapon while Obi-Wan stood as unreadable as ever.
Patience, Anakin. Obi-Wan cautioned through the Force. Then, Tell Ahsoka to be ready. Anakin relayed the message through his bond with his padawan and prepared himself for action. He watched Obi-Wan hold the handle of his lightsaber out in front of him in a non-threatening manner before bending down to lay it on the ground. The crouched position allowed him to conceal the motions of his free hand, the fingers of which were stretched out into the Force.
Then several things happened at once. Obi-Wan gave a jerk of his fingers and the blaster in Almec’s hand flew free of the prime minister’s grasp. Startled, the man loosened his hold on Satine, who stomped her heel down onto his foot and yanked herself free just as Ahsoka somersaulted out of the treetop where she’d held her position. Anakin used the Force to shove Vizsla off his feet, giving his padawan the perfect opening to cut Satine’s bonds with her lightsaber. Obi-Wan rose from his crouch and gathered the Force, preparing to knock back any attack Vizsla and Almec might attempt, as the duchess and Ahsoka dashed across the clearing to join the two Jedi.
Anakin breathed a sigh of relief as they ran past him, somewhat surprised everything had gone so smoothly. A second later there was an explosion, and Anakin whipped his gaze toward the sound only to see a mass of green smoke erupting beneath Obi-Wan’s feet. They all gaped as the cloud hissed and moaned - the sound unmistakably wrought of Nightsister magick. It vibrated with a life all its own as it slithered up around the Jedi Master. A sudden rush of darkness engulfed the clearing, its stench almost suffocating, as Darth Maul appeared cackling with demonic laughter.
“Mother Talzin sends her regards,” the Zabrak crowed. Then his spiteful gaze locking on Anakin’s mentor, “Welcome, Kenobi, to the Dark Side!”