No Regrets (A Star Wars AU)

1 - A Calling Vision

The battle was over. Maul had been captured, and they had him in some sort of Mandalorian contraption. We needed to get back to Coruscant, so the ship was being prepped, and I was in my room. I sat there, meditating. I knew that we weren't going to leave for at least another hour, they were still settling out the people of Mandalore. And don't get me started about how long the Star Destroyer can take to be ready.

I sat up and focused, letting my mind slip into a deep state. I felt myself floating slightly above the ground.
While meditating, visions crossed my mind. Usually I'd let these thoughts go away, but this was different. I saw my old master, Mace Windu. He was on Coruscant. The thought flashed forward, and there was a shock of electricity that sent chills down my spine. All I could envision was black, and I felt a cold presence surrounding me.

I opened my eyes quickly and shook my head, falling back onto the mat laying on the floor. Maybe it was the fact that Maul was close by, his dark force toying with my mind. But I couldn't be sure.

Coruscant. I knew that was in my vision for sure. I got up and jogged out of my room, going to find Ahsoka. I needed to tell her that I had to get to Coruscant. I could take a Mandalorian ship. Or one that was on the Star Destroyer.

I passed Maul's room. My mind immediately jumped to what he said in the throne room. He had talked about Anakin being Sidious's apprentice? And something else about the Republic already having lost the war. I stopped jogging and went back to his room. I put a hand on the keypad to disarm the ray-shielded door. It opened and I walked inside, to the coffin contraption that Maul was kept in. I needed to talk to him, so that meant I had to unlock it.
I put in the code on the side and the door hissed as it unlatched. I could feel Maul's presence even stronger now. I let the cover over his mouth come off, so he could speak.

"Before you do anything dumb. I'm not here to let you out." I sneered.

He looked down at me, scowling. "Then why are you here?"

I thought about how I wanted to ask him the questions about Anakin. I needed to confirm that I needed to go to Coruscant. "You remember what you said in the throne room..? About Anakin?"

"Yes. Why?" He seemed to stare right through my soul.

"I just had a vision. It was about Coruscant. My old master... There was also a presence that was cold, like ice." I pushed my fingers through my hair. "I doubted what you said. But now it feels like it might be true."

"So now you feel as if you need to go back. Are you worried about something?" He scoffed. "Aren't Jedi supposed to keep their emotions from clouding their judgement?"

I sighed. "Yes. But... this is different. Something is going to happen."

He laughed. "Why did you come to me? You couldn't decide on your own? Is it because your Master Kenobi isn't here? You need me to decide for you."

"No I don't." I crossed my arms. I hated talking to him. But even then I felt something keeping me interested in the Zabrak. He was different. Ever since he had kidnapped me I had felt different about him. Maybe because I had got to see more about his life. He didn't choose to become a Sith.

No. I shouldn't sympathize with him, especially not now. I thought to myself. I still couldn't just leave him. I was very conflicted with how I felt about Maul.

"I-" I stuttered, not knowing what to say next. "Listen. Maul. I sense something is happening. I need to leave. I don't know exactly how I feel about you, but I feel like our meetings aren't over."

I closed the cover over his mouth again.

"Maul. I will contact you. Only if I need you. Because I believe you." I said, while I closed the door back to the coffin. It hissed, then clamped shut.

While I walked out of the room and turned the ray shield back on, I could feel his gaze piercing my back.

I ran down the hall. I had an urge that was growing, and I needed to get to Coruscant. Finally I found Ahsoka, she was on the bridge with Rex and Jesse.
She heard me come in and turned around. I didn't want to worry Ahsoka with my fear about what Maul said actually coming true. So I decided I wouldn't mention it to her.

"I was meditating, back in my room. I had a vision." I started.

"A vision about what?" Ahsoka replied, looking worried.

"I'm..." I drew in a breath. "I'm unsure. But I need to go to Coruscant. Now. Master Mace might need me."
She looked at Rex then back at me. "Are you sure you're okay?" She walked over to me and put her arm on my shoulder.

"Yes. I'm okay. Do you think I could use one of the shuttles in the docking bay?" I hoped that they wouldn't need them any time soon.

Ahsoka thought for a moment, and spoke with Rex. Him and Jesse nodded to each other and Jesse left the room, talking on his comlink. "They say there's a shuttle ready now, and you can take it if you feel like you really need to leave."

"Thank you Ahsoka." I smiled, to both her and Rex. "I'll see you guys back on Coruscant right?"

"Yes. Of course you will, commander." Rex said. "We'll meet you there once we get this ship up and ready to roll."

I hugged both Ahsoka and Rex, then walked to the door. "May the Force be with you both." I saw them smile, and I left the room, the door sliding shut behind me.

As I walked down the hall to the elevator, I thought about my vision again. Surely everything would be okay. All I knew was that I needed to get to Coruscant, and fast. I stepped into the elevator with a couple clones going down.

"Hey there commander!" Vaughn said. "Leaving so soon?"

I chuckled, "Unfortunately, I won't get to transport Maul to the council. But I'll see you when you get there."

The elevator door opened and we stepped out.

"See you later commander." Vaughn left with the other clone down another hall.

I made it to the docking bay and saw the ship that was prepped already. I walked to the ship and climbed in. I flipped a few switches and heard the engines begin to rumble. I backed the ship in the middle of the bay and heard Rex and Ahsoka on the com channel.

"Let us get this door open for you commander, then you'll be on your way." The com beeped as Rex ended his sentence.

"Copy that." I replied.

I watched the bay doors open and the clones in the bay move to the side.

"You're ready to fly Valin." I heard Ahsoka say.

"Good luck."

"Thanks Ahsoka, but you know what Obi-Wan says. We don't believe in luck." I chuckled, as did she, and I took off out of the dock.

As I flew above Mandalore I could feel the atmosphere getting thinner, and the planet's hold on me getting looser. I made it out of the atmosphere and remembered how I enjoyed flying. It always reminded me of being with Hondo, and him teaching me to fly as a kid. I think that his skills still come in handy to this day.

I finally made it far enough away and programmed the Navicomputer for Coruscant. I knew I would surely get there before Ahsoka, but I had to hope that I could get there before anything in the vision happened. I pushed down the lever and felt the ship lurch into hyperspace, the blues swirling around the ship.