Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

[The video starts off with Maul looking angry, as he usually does, and he starts in with no introduction or insults. There’s a definite sense one gets watching that he’s doing his best to keep himself from pissing off the population at large.]

It appears that recently there was a misunderstanding over who had killed someone named Flynn. I am here to make it clear that was not me. While I have no issues with being accused of things I have actually done, I won’t stand for people speculating that I am the cause of all your miseries here--

[He pauses, visibly restraining himself from saying anything further that he knows won’t help his cause here.]

--But no matter. I knew who actually did it and so I have brought the miscreant forth to tell you himself.

[He nods to someone off-screen and Savage comes forward with Anakin. He has his lightsaber pointed at his throat.

The effects of bloodsport and corruption have started leaving their marks on Anakin. Despite the lightsaber held against him, he’s still twitchy with pent up energy. In addition he’s flushed with fever. He stares at Maul blankly, not understanding what’s going on here.]

Are you going to kill me again?

[Maul shakes his head no, pointing to Venge who is currently broadcasting the video.]

Not if you cooperate. Now, tell the people here what you did at the Gate.

[He looks at Savage.]

Cut his hand off if he refuses to cooperate. I’ve no patience for playing games today.

[A smirk appeared on Savage’s lips, and he lowered the lit end of his saberstaff downwards to make it clear that the threat would be carried out without question. His mechanical hand tightened on Anakin to prevent much squirming.

Anakin winces as the metal parts in his hand grind together. Maintenance wasn’t as easy.]

So if I say whatever you want me to I get to go? [Turning directly to face the camera.] Whatever he said, it was me. It was all me. I did it.

[Maul nods in satisfaction. He figures that’s as good as they’re gonna get on any coherency from Anakin.]

There, you see? It wasn’t me.

[Then he turns to Savage.]

Let him go.

[Honestly, the fact Maul isn’t about to execute Anakin on the network is a bigger sign he’s sincere about this than anything else. He never would have been willing to let Anakin go after having to deal with such a problem a year or two ago.

Savage growled as he turned his saberstaff off, then moved to seize Anakin to drag him off screen to be set free. As promised.]

[Red=Maul, Blue=Anakin. Any of the three are available for replies!]

Comments

[jedies]

Then I would think you would hold more respect for loss.

[opress]

We've been over this. Only Maul matters.

Aren't you the same?

[jedies]

[ bone dry. ]

Considering you were there when Satine died, I would think you know the answer to that.

[opress]

[He rumbled acknowledgement. He had been there, and watching that human female hadn't bothered him in the least. It was Maul making a statement.

So there was a more important question:]

You're powerful in the Force. Why didn't you make more an effort to save her?

[jedies]

[ his eyes narrow. ]

Power is not always the solution. As you learned that day itself.

Private Voice;

[opress]

[He knew better than to talk too publicly at least. It wasn't that he was affected by the topic, but he understood that others might take too much interest.]

You're an excellent warrior, a few Mandalorians shouldn't have held you that long. You fought and won against both brother and I twice, and handily won the second encounter. If you cared for her as much as you seemed to, why didn't you fight with everything you had to save her?

[A bit wordy, but he at least knew what love was. He had laid down his life on more occasions than he could count for his brothers. Yes, he died that last time, but he had fought despite knowing right from the get go that Sidious was going to probably kill him and likely Maul.]

[jedies]

And what would that prove?

[ his temper is rising, he knows it so obi-wan pauses to tamp it down briefly. ]

Our love still remains. It is not a crutch or a weapon you can use against me. All it would have done is make me succumb to my darker impulses.

Only the weak use others to prove their own power.

[opress]

How can it remain when she's dead?

[After all, Feral was dead and his old care for his little brother was like an old unhealed ache that sometimes festered. It gave him strength but also a chic in the armour he liked to think he had.]

I don't understand how you can turn the other cheek. Sometimes it reminds me of my Brothers. [The Nightbrothers.]

[jedies]

[ obi-wan takes a moment to observe savage, some of his earlier snippiness fading away. ]

Of course it can remain. It is only gone if I forget that it mattered. And she wouldn't want me to live my life treating her death as a crutch or a wound.

[opress]

It is a wound. Maybe a scar now.

[Maybe he cared too much because he had had so little? Or maybe that's just who he was, who he was bred to be.

He was quiet for a full minute before he growled out his next question in a low angry voice.]

...do you sometimes stop randomly in a day and just feel her loss?

[jedies]

Of course I do. I feel it often.

[ but he doesn't lapse into depressive phases because of it. satine's memory, her love, her life deserved better. ]

[opress]

Ah.

[He had been told Jedi weren't allowed to form strong attachments. This sounded similar to his own old losses.]

She might come here.

[jedies]

She might.

[ but he sighs. ]

But it won't change what happened to her.

[opress]

It provides second chances.

[jedies]

And what are you doing with yours?

[opress]

Serving my brother.

[jedies]

That's what a servant would say.

[opress]

And?

[jedies]

And perhaps the question you should be asking is, is it helping?

Serving Maul may not be the same as saving him.

[opress]

Don't you and his female take on the responsibility of saving him?

He's already so changed and 'saved' from when I traveled with him before I died.

[jedies]

That is not our job, but our choice.

And it can be a slippery slope. At any rate, all I ask is that you ruminate on that.

[opress]

What sort of 'saving' am I supposed to ruminate on?

[jedies]

That is not something I can answer for you.

But you served Maul on Mandalore. His actions and your own lead you both to Palpatine. And I believe Mandalore was not your idea. You had other goals in mind.

It never hurts to live them. Or speak them.

[opress]

[He remained mute on the mission to Mandalore. Of course it wasn't his idea; he wasn't that... ambitious. He never had been.]

My life has never been my own.

[jedies]

Second chances. You said it yourself.

If you don't reclaim it, who will?