What if?: One Death

The Attempt

Mother Talzin released her son from her hug as she felt a shift in the air. The shift baffled her until she saw Obi-wan approach them. A Force wielder, the one thing that she banned from her Clan and the planet.

"You, what are you doing here?" Mother Talzin questioned her voice rising slightly.

"Mother, no!" Maul's voice panicked "Whatever you're thinking, it's not that! He's not here to hurt you or me or anyone. He brought me home! My master would never want,"

"Master?!" Mother Talzin snapped, Obi-wan and Maul looked around to see Nightsisters surrounding them. Mother Talzin then felt another shift in the air. Obi-wan looked at Maul, gulping as Maul had reached for his stolen lightsaber to not feel it there. It was a quick moment of relief as Obi-wan remembered that he had taken it from Maul the moment they landed.

"Maul!" Obi-wan's voice was steady and strong. "Calm yourself, we are not in any danger."

Obi-wan stood next to Maul and placed his hand on Maul's shoulder to feel it shaking.

"My son will not be a slave to any more Force wielders. Have you all forgotten that you are forbidden on Dathomir? Viscus, how dare you bring someone of his kind to the heart of our people!" Mother Talzin's calm rage turned to Viscus, who looked unaffected.

"Obi-wan has done no harm to our son Talzin," Viscus started

"I have freed Maul, Mother Talzin," Obi-wan spoke up as Maul's arm kept shaking, Mother Talzin's naturally calm appearance turned angry. "I am not Maul's master. I never wanted to be."

Maul's face twist into a sad and broken looked as he turned to look at Obi-wan.

"I am sure you have foreseen him coming home to you. But if you had kept your eyes on Sidious, you would have been able to tell that he's been dead. I killed him and in doing so, Maul had sworn that he would serve me. The entire time that Maul has been in my care I have kept him from being killed by Sidious' master and kept him out of the hand of the Jedi. In taking care of Maul, I have separated myself and abandoned the Jedi way. I also am the one who helped Maul find his way back home to you, Mother Talzin. If you wish to punish me for a wrong that I have not done, tell that to your son." Obi-wan spoke hoping that Mother Talzin would heed his warning that he wished was a bluff. Obi-wan watch as Talzin's expression calmed and the surrounding Nightsisters all turned to look at their leader waiting for an order.

 "Maul," The witch finally spoke, "Is what Kenobi say true?"

"Yes, mother! After Sidious' defeat, mas- Kenobi has shown me nothing but kindness. He has shown me there is more than just the dark side of things. He has never threatened me or raised a single hand at me. He has protected me from the Jedi. He has shown me that there is more kindness in the galaxy than Sidious' lies told me. Please, mother, do not punish him." Maul begged his mother as he stayed by Obi-wan's side.

"And you are not just saying this because he is here?" Mother Talzin questioned Maul which got her a sharp look from Viscus.

"I would declare the truth about Kenobi anywhere you want me to, mother. Kenobi is the most caring person I have ever met and I would willingly die if it ensured his safety." Maul stated and Talzin was silent for a moment.

"Very well then. Savage, Feral go with Sisters Talia and Karis. Take Maul and his welcomed friend around the village." Mother Talzin ordered and the two Nightsisters stepped forward and bowed.

"Yes, Mother." The four of them spoke and the Nightsisters walked over to the four men. They began to walk off and left Viscus behind, who waited and just looked at Mother Talzin before walking up to her. The remaining Nightsister watched Viscus approach Talzin, some leaving to return to what thy were doing, some stayed keeping an eye on the remaining Nightbrother.

Not a word was spoken between them until they were alone in the main meeting building that stood nearly in the center of the village.

"You are upset Viscus, what is wrong?" Talzin turned to him as he closed the door.

"You questioned Maul's ability to speak in front of others and his ability to speak the truth." Viscus' voice stayed as calm as Talzin's

"Maul has been through a lot in his life. Sidious has not been dead for long." Talzin spoke walking to her seat at the table.

"So you have been watching Sidious. Is that what you've been doing in this new free time of yours? Watching and studying the Sith?" Viscus questioned

"After Sidious' death, I have been attempting to watch the one who had killed him, but that was beyond my vision." Talzin responded placing her hands on her large chair. "I do not trust this... ex-Jedi."

"Maul does seem to respect Kenobi more than a master and slave relationship would go and  Maul does look at him higher than anyone else." Vicus thought aloud

"So tell me, what caused the delay with bringing Maul here?"  Talzin questioned

"A very odd Rancor attack. Rancors do not come this far out of their natural habitat. Do you think it was caused by the Singing Mountain Clan and their magiks?" Viscus pondered

"No, but we shall worry about the Rancor later. What of Maul and Kenobi at that time?" Talzin inquired

"The village attacked it and Maul and Kenobi had come to help before Savage stopped Kenobi from joining the attack. Savage had his weapon pointed at Kenobi and Maul had knocked the weapon away from its aim at Kenobi. Then everyone was amazed at Maul's performance. We had lost many Nightbrother's in the attack and we would barely wound the creature with its unusual knowledge of strategy and the layout of the village. Despite all of that Maul was able to kill the creature on his own." Viscus  reported

"On his own?!" Talzin hummed in amusement, "And after the attack?"

"As the Rancor fell, Maul turned and went quickly over to Kenobi, doing nothing in between. He had made sure Kenobi was alright and that nothing happened to him." Viscus finished

"Hmmm," Was all the Talzin said in response

"There's something between Maul and Kenobi and Kenobi is trying to hide it. With they way he spoke about punishing him and him saying you'll have to tell it to Maul, that was in no way a bluff." Viscus thought aloud

"We will find out it is, Viscus." Mother Talzin sat down and looked into her crystal ball to see her sons, Obi-wan and the Nightsister walking around the dim village.