Rising From Ashes

Chapter 5 - Apprentices

Warning: Non-consensual medical experimentation

~ Tirana Sorki

Aniya Skywalker

It's been long enough since I found out I was pregnant that I can actually sense it myself now. It's a slight shift inside of me, the feel of an additional life, even if it's faint. I'm going to be a mother.

A mother at the same time as a Sith Lady and apprentice, and the two don't really fit together. I'll do anything to protect my child, no matter what happens, but that's always more complicated when I have a master, who I have to please.

But Mom did it with twins, somehow. At least I'll have Anakin to help me.

I throw a sideways glance at where my brother stands near Maul. This is going to be our first mission with him. We've seen him numerous times while training the Inquisitors, but since we're the Sith apprentices, and he's the Grand Inquisitor, we've never had a mission drastic enough to go on together until now.

The storm of anger and grief that surrounded Maul in his cell is still as strong as ever, even if he's not outwardly showing it – anymore than his obviously Sithlyness, that is.

"Are you... alright?" Anakin asks, almost awkwardly.

Maul spins around, fixing him with a fierce glare.

"Hey, he was just asking," I cut in, stepping forwards.

His glare lands on me instead, but I don't back down. "That is irrelevant. Perhaps in the time we have, we can do something of actual value. You can show me your skills."

Actual value?

Because apparently asking if he's alright is that offensive? Fine. Serious cultural misunderstandings, apparently...

"If you want," Anakin offers. It's not as if it would hurt.

"Which of you is more skilled?" Maul asks, once we're somewhere we can spar without the risk of destroying our surroundings.

"Anakin is," I throw back, "So maybe you should start against me, so you don't embarrass yourself."

He gives me a flat look, drawing his blade. Apparently, he doesn't buy it. Fine, I'll show him. I can guarantee we're more skilled, and I'm not being arrogant when I say that. I'm just good at k knowing what I'm good at.

I ignite my blade in turn, ever aware of the sad humming of my crystal. It fits, though, with who I am. Anakin stands back to watch, as we circle each other slowly. Maul makes the first move, lunging at me and our blades clash.

The duel is fast, our blades moving in a blinding blur of red, though I hold back just the slightest bit to make sure I don't accidentally injure him. I can't tell if he's doing likewise or not, but he definitely has the advantage of having more endurance – a biological Zabrak thing. I'm more skilled than he is, though.

I could have beaten him already, but I'm not fighting to disarm as fast as possible. I've been itching to fight for a while anyway, so I don't mind dragging it out. It probably would've taken longer if we weren't using the Force at all, but I finally shove him back, knocking his lightsaber from his hands.

I'm expecting instant annoyance or anger to hide embarrassment on his part, but instead he seems... I don't know, proud? Or, at the very least, impressed. I can't quite make sense of what I'm feeling from him.

"Impressive," he muses. "Your skills have grown much."

"We aren't children anymore," I point out.

"No, you are not," he agrees, "It is... regrettable that I could not have trained you from the beginning." Oh no. Not another Sith obsessing over training us. Please. Plagueis, Dooku, Sidious, and now Maul, too?