Kapitel 12: Chapter 9

"It's like this your majesty. An army arrived and saved us from the hands of the Trade Federation's droid army!" reported the guard while describing the events that transpired with exaggeration.

"An army? Tell us more. " asked Qui-Gon as he influenced the guard with the force.

"Yes an army! They came from the sky riding those big vessels.It's evident with that large hole on the ceiling and the seemingly wreckage like spot on the floor of the hangar. They wield powerful guns that can put a hole through the wall! Tanks that makes the armed transports and tanks of the federation look like a kid." continued to narrate the guard totally oblivious of the fact that he's being influenced as they got near the throne room.

"How long did it take to liberate the city?" asked Padme as she was shocked that the Imperium also has a powerful army.

"The whole battle ended in probably less than 3 hours. Their efficiency is beyond that of the army of mercenaries." said the guard with a matching hand signs.

"Have you managed to come in contact with this army?" asked Obi-Wan to ascertain his suspicions even more.

"Oh certainly yes. They're actually really great men. Amicable and fun to hangout. Also they preached about this God-Emperor. They said that if you'll pray to him then everything will come true. At first I'm suspicious but when they shouted for the Emperor and charged at the droids and they managed to survive without a scratch. That's the time that I believed that the Emperor really protects." said the guard sounding like a preacher which earned him a confused and shocked look on Padme and the two jedis. The guard has a reminiscing look on his face.

"What's their organization or nation is called?" asked Qui-Gon verifying his thoughts.

"Oh, they said they're under the service of the God-Emperor of mankind and their nation is called the Imperium of Mankind if I remember correctly." said the guard after a second of thought.

"Imperium of Mankind!" exclaimed the three almost simultaneously as they remembered their time in the ship of the Imperium and finally concluded that the Imperium really did the genocide on the Gungans.

"Has the masters and your majesty met them before?" asked the guard in respect amd curiosity.

"Yes we did met before. They wiped the Trade Federation's fleet on the space outside our planet." answered Padme while nodding.

"Amazing... Ah yes, before I forget. They seem to left us a gift as a sign of respect for their same species. I don't know what's this gift but they said it will solve one of our problems." said the guard as he suddenly remembered about the gift left for them by his labeled "good guys".

The group of Padme and the jedis just absentmindedly nodded with the statement of guard. As they continued to walk, a silence engulfed the whole group as it can be felt that there's something unsettling that made Padme and the two jedis speechless.

They eventually reached the throne and was immediately put on high alert as nervousness kicked in. The guards stationed are missing which made the royal guard who's escorting the group of Padme immediately unholster his blaster pistol as he called out for the other guards.

The jedis also reached out on their lightsabers and readied for battle.

"Stay close to Padme, I don't feel so good about this" instructed Qui-Gon to the guard which immediately complied.

Just then a figure wearing black robes and has a freaky looking red face suddenly jumped from the ceiling to perform a jumping attack with his double ended red colored lightsaber.

Qui-Gon was able to parry this surprise blow quite easily as he forced push the figure to create some space between them.

"Evacuate the queen! Now!" ordered Obi-Wan as he joins the battle with this mysterious figure.

The guard and the queen quickly ran to the exit leaving the jedis and the mysterious figure alone.

"It's that same mysterious figure again, and it turns out he's really a sith lord." said Qui-Gon to Obi-Wan as they entered fighting stance which the sith lord followed shortly.

The sith lord suddenly charged to the two jedis with increased agility as they exchanged blows and the sith lord easily blocked and parry the attack from the two jedis.

"He's strong!" growled Qui-Gon on his heart as he initiated a counterattack against the sith lord. Obi-Wan also followed as they intend to overpower the sith lord using their numbers.

But reality proved to be different as the sith lord easily defended himself from their attacks and almost at times managed to overpower or injure them.

"This battle will be difficult." said Obi-Wan to his master who nodded.

Darth Maul observed the two and formulated a plan on how will he defeat them. He decides that a good offense is the best defense. He suddenly charges with speed that is beyond a normal being can perceive with their eyes.

He uses focrce push on Obi-Wan to eliminate him from the picture for a short time giving Darth Maul seconds to fight a close combat one on one with Qui-Gon.

The two was shocked with the events that transpired. Luckily Qui-Gon managed to defend himself just the right moment and Obi-Wan managed to land safely.

But Darth Maul has another trick up his sleeve. He sidesteps and suddenly uses force push to create some space. But as Qui-Gon was hit by the push he was suddenly pulled in by another force. It turns out that Darth Maul used force pull to have Qui-Gon impale himself on Darth Maul's lightsaber.

As Qui-Gon was inches away from having himself impaled on the lightsaber, Obi-Wan got up to his feet and used force push to save his master from death.

This caught the attention of Darth Maul as he charged to Obi-Wan and dueled him.

Strike after strike as the fast and agile Darth Maul was evidently the better fighter as Obi-Wan was having a hard time defending himself.

Darth Maul force pushes Obi-Wan to create some space as he looks at the two and starts to run to the destroyed Theed Generator complex to execute his backup plan. The complex is only undergoing reconstruction but it's still douling it's job on a rather small scale to prevent any failure.

The two quickly gave chase and they managed to catch up with Maul on the catwalk towards the refinery. The catwalk became a dangerous place for the three of them as it's become extremely brittle as if it'll break any moment.

Looking at the two jedis, Maul just looked at them mockingly as he jumped on the railings of the catwalk and suddenly burst with speed catching both off guard. Maul strike Obi-Wan with his force enhanced body making him off balanced and falling off the catwalk due to the impact.

Satisfied, Maul retreated to the melting pit to further isolate Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon gave chase as they slowly dueled towards the burning pit.

Obi-Wan managed to hold on to a ledge firmly to save his life as he started to climb back to the catwalk to help his master.

At this time a fierce duel between the jedi and a sith was happening. The jedi however was having a hard time defending himself from all the fierce and fast attacks of the sith lord.

An opening on the jedi's defenses which the sith lord took. The sith managed to mortally wound the jedi on the chest.

At this moment, Obi-Wan finally reached the melting pit. He saw his master was mortally wounded but he didn't let the chance of striking the sith lord go away.

He suddenly jumped performing an overhead strike which Maul easily avoided but this time Obi-Wan decided to use Darth Maul's little trick as he force pushed Maul which caught him off guard once he balanced himself on the floor.

Darth Maul was hit by a strong repulsive force as he was thrown away by it to the melting pit.

While Maul was mid air Obi-Wan force pulled Maul back to him as he did a slash on Maul which Maul was ready this time and easily defended against it.

The two created some space between them as a standoff occurred.

Maul just looked at the jedi as if he's looking at a fool as he pointed his lightsaber to the jedi taunting him to strike him.

Obi-Wan took bait of this taunting and charged towards the sith lord.

A duel occurred once again as strike after strike was thrown by both sides and each of them being defended by the other.

But the sith lord has the upper hand. He's giving Obi-Wan a hard time defending against his attack just like what he did to Qui-Gon who was currently lying on the ground motionless.

But this time an opening on Maul's defenses has presented itself to Obi-Wan which he took and slashed decisively. This caught Maul completely by surprise as his reflexes prompted him to evade it. Maul immediately evaded the slash by a hair's strand as he did a risky counterattack on Obi-Wan tsking advantage of the pause after his attack.

This counterattack proved decisive as Obi-Wan was forces to evade it without a balance on his body. Obi-Wan ducked to evade the slash but as he ducked he loss his balance and stumbled on the ground as he fell to the edge of the pit barely holding to the ground. He also loss his lightsaber when he loss his balance. His lightsaber has now fallen to the melting pit never to be seen again.

As Obi-Wan hanged there for his dear life Maul slowly walked towards him as he slowly brought his lightsaber to the hand of Obi-Wan holding the ledge.

Obi-Wan not resigning to this fate concentrated and called for his master's lightsaber and willed it to fly towards his hand.

"Come on!" shouted Obi-Wan in his mind as his concentration reached its peak and the lightsaber of his master vibrated a little.

As Maul slowly moves his lightsaber to Obi-Wan's hand to cut it off, as it's centimeters away from Obi-Wan's hand, the lightsaber of Qui-Gon suddenly answered Obi-Wan's call and flew towards him.

Obi-Wan catches the flying lightsaber just in time to save himself. He activated the lightsaber and pulled his weight up as he slashed on Maul's waist mutilating it. The upper body of Maul fell down the melting pit.

Obi-Wan pulled his weight back to solid ground and breathed a sigh of relief. Obi-Wan immediately rushed towards his master's side which has a mortal wound.

Qui-Gon bids Obi-Wan his farewell as he said he grew up to be a strong and capable jedi.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi *cough* you've grown up to be a capable man worthy of being called a jedi." said Qui-Gon barely finishing his sentence as he coughed up blood.

"Master hang in there! I'll get you hel-" the words of Obi-Wan was cut off as his master coughed another blood.

"You don't need to, my student. I won't last long. Just promise me something" whispered Qui-Gon as his breathing becomes difficult each second passes.

This earned a tear from Obi-Wan as his master is slowly dying. Qui-Gon has instructed Obi-Wan to teach the young Anakin the way of the jedi because he's the "chosen one".

Obi-Wan promised his master which just nodded and moments later he breathed his final breath.

Qui-Gon died with a smile knowing that a better future will surely happen, he have forgotten about the existence of the Imperium as he imagined a utopia where everyone got to live peacefully.

"Thank you for everything master." said Obi-Wan while smiling as he teared up looking at his master's lifeless body. He closes his master's eyes and looks at the lightsaber in his hand as he clutches it hard. This lightsaber is something he will treasure till the end of his days.