In•hale

Dark Maul. Wouldn't want to walk through one of those.

Something's coming.

I sensed it. I felt it. Something sinister was approaching and fast.

I lept off the ground and ran to the cockpit. Obi-Wan was already there, he must have sensed it as well. I looked outside, and the sun was already high in the sky. Wow I must have been asleep for a very long time. The horizon was blank. I could feel the threat, but I couldn't see it.

"Do you have any macrobinoculars?" I asked my friend. He stepped out of the room for a second and came back with a pair in his hands.

"I think I'm going to stay in here, but tell me what you see." he said, before handing them over. I thanked him, grabbed them, and went outside.

The hot, coarse sand whipped at my legs as I trained the gadget towards the horizon. I could clearly see my master, Jar Jar, and one of the Queen's handmaidens named Padmé trekking towards the ship. Master Jinn however, was nowhere to be seen. I removed the macrobinoculars from in front of my eyes, and focused on my master's force presence.

Master? I asked over our bond.

Yes Chalset?

Do you have the hyperdrive piece? Where is Master Jinn?

Humour wafted across the bond from his side. Patience Padawan. Qui-Gon has gone to retrieve the boy responsible for getting us the hyperdrive generator. He'll be along in a few minutes.

Oh. I sent sheepishly. A baritone chuckle reached my ears, and I smiled, glad my master was in a good mood.

Tell me Padawan have you sensed the disturbance?

Yes Master, it's coming this way.

Very good Padawan. Be on high alert and don't let your guard slip for a second. I will be there shortly.

Yes Master.

I stood there, my lips a grim line. A few minutes later, everyone arrived at the ship. Padmé and Jar Jar went inside to get out of the scorching heat, and Plo went inside to fix up the hyperdrive. I stayed outside though, not able to get this awful feeling out of my gut. I looked at the horizon again and saw a figure. When I used the macrobinoculars, I could see that it was Qui-Gon, and he had a little boy in tow.

He must be the one that scored us our hyperdrive generator. I thought with a smile. He looks so precious and small--

A warning from the Force shot through me like a blaster bolt, interrupting my thoughts. I looked at the duo again. They were running.

Obi-Wan suddenly appeared at the ship ramp. "Get on board!" he said urgently. I hurried up the ramp after him and into the cockpit.

Qui-Gon and the little boy were getting closer, but so was a dark figure riding a speeder. This was the sinister thing we all felt, I was sure of it. Qui-Gon and the little boy would never get here before it got to them first.

The dark figure was bearing down on them so fast, he was sure to run the little boy over! Qui-Gon turned around and noticed that too, and suddenly the little boy dropped. The speeder whooshed over him and the sinister figure lept off, a double bladed red lightsaber coming to life.

Sith sticks!! It couldn't have been! The Sith have been extinct for a thousand years!

Qui-Gon barely clocked the swinging death blow aimed for him with his own emerald saber. The creature raining the savage and merciless blows' skin was red and marked with black tattoos and horns crowned his head. The little boy, seemingly forgotten, picked himself off the ground and started running for the ship as Qui-Gon and the supposed Sith continued fighting.

As he clambered aboard, the pilot of the ship slipped into this seat, and Obi-Wan told him to take off and fly low next to Qui-Gon so he could get onboard.

As the ship came close to the two warriors still fighting tirelessly, Qui-Gon found escape and jumped onto the ramp. The ramp closed, and the ship took off into space as the lone Sith stood there on the ground and watched.

And for an odd moment, it seemed as if he were watching me.

It's no coincidence. Maul's up to something ;)