The Path of a Jedi Book 2 (The Bad Batch x Reader)

Chapter 8

You arrived at the small access platform and quickly took care of the small force there to watch the hangar. Tech landed the Marauder on the platform and you all quickly got out. Outside, you met Bo-Katan and her landing party.

"I can lead you around to flank the other side," she said, "the throne room is on the way."

You nodded in understanding and followed her into the capital city. "This was a good plan," Echo said, "there is no one in sight."

"It is strange," Tech said, "There are not even citizens here."

"They all go underground," Bo-Katan answered, "as soon as the sirens go off, they go to safety bunkers all over the city."

"I remember a time when sirens would bring all the citizens to battle," you remarked.

"When we won neutrality in the clone wars, my sister had the bunkers built so that no citizen needed to fight," Bo-Katan explained, "she always wanted peace, but she wanted the safety of her people more."

Silence ensued again as you continued through the capital city unbothered. Suddenly, you felt a pull deep inside you, like your body wanted you to veer off here. You stopped for a moment and looked in the direction of the force pulling you.

"You can sense him, can't you?" Bo-Katan asked, stopping next to you.

You nodded, "the force is pulling me towards him, I don't know if he has sensed me yet."

She pointed to where you felt pulled, "that is the throne room, it has security doors, but you should be able to destroy the access panel and they will open."

You nodded in thanks and took a few steps in that direction, but you felt a tight grip on your arm. You turned to see Hunter, removing his helmet to look in your eyes. "Hunter-" you began.

He held his hand in the air, "I am not going to stop you, I realize now why this is so important to you," he explained, stepping closer, "you are trying to protect Obi-Wan, I remembered what you said about Maul's revenge."

"If I kill him, he will never reach Obi-Wan," you admitted, "I owe it to him."

"Because he protected you?" he asked.

You nodded, "because he always protected me, now it is my turn."

Hunter nodded and wrapped you in a tight hug, "be safe, but don't forget who you are, revenge is not your way."

You let a tear fall as you leaned into Hunter, but quickly wiped it away and pulled back, "no matter what happens to me, know I have always loved you," you say to him.

Before he can respond, you turn and run towards the throne room. Hunter watches you go, "I love you," he whispers before taking off towards the others.

—----------------------------------------------------

You arrived outside of the throne room, you sliced the control panel with your saber and stepped into the room.

To your surprise, Maul was lounging on the throne, paying little attention to you. "I wondered when you would finally arrive, Lady (Y/N)," he said loudly, "I have been waiting for you."

You took some tentative steps towards him across the hall, hands lightly resting on your saber and the darksaber Tech had given you before you landed. "You sensed me?" you asked.

Maul laughed and finally looked at you, "I sensed you the minute the pretender Duchess saved you."

"Even you are not that powerful," you answered.

Maul sat up straighter now, "on the contrary, Lady (Y/N), once you let go of your foolish attachment to the light or the dark, there are unparalleled powers in between."

"Why did you want Mandalore?" you asked, changing the subject, "why stay here?"

"I quite like the view," he answered, gesturing around him.

You scoffed, "you're afraid of something, I just haven't figured out what."

Maul's smile faded, "even when I try to hide, old masters keep coming," he said darkly, "but no one would dare try to find me here."

"Except me," you said with a mock bow.

Maul nodded, "except you, although I cannot figure out why you would help the baby sister of a dead pacifist ruler from a planet turned to dust."

"Maybe I have my own motivations for wanting you dead," you answered. Maul was now standing, coming to face you but still keeping a safe distance.

"Yes, but there is only one thing that is that important to you," Maul whispered, rubbing his hand on his chin, "Kenobi."

"He died with the jedi," you lied.

"Ah yes, the jedi purge," Maul said with gradious, "I am quite curious how you survived such an ordeal."

"I'm just that good," you answered, taking a few steps closer to Maul as you circled one another.

He laughed, "you are a talented force user, but I imagine it had something to do with those special clones of yours."

Surprise was evident on your face and Maul laughed again, "yes, yes, I know about them too, you see I have kept tabs on you for a very long time, waiting for you to make it here, to me."

You allowed your face to grow cold again, "why?"

"It is all part of my revenge, of course," he laughed, "I'll parade your dead body in front of Kenobi and watch it destroy him, I'll make him feel all of the hurt of your death and then I will kill him, slowly in all the ways I know he fears!" he paused to flash you a wicked smile, "and then I'll go after your clones and make them feel it too."

You wasted no time and let out a battle cry, igniting your saber and rushing Maul. There was no going back now and you had to choose what to do, if you could even defeat him at all.