Final mission of Master Maw

[Sorel Crieff]

Two years ago - the Outer Rim

Master Maw drifted in and out the shadows, a shadow himself. The moon world was located far from the sun, and most of the available light was reflected off the nearby gas giant, around which the moon orbited. The town was bustling with activity, but the workers’ district was largely deserted. Like many of the surface towns, it was located near an active volcano for its much needed warmth, despite the risk of occasional eruptions. The authorities usually predicted the eruptions in time and evacuated the threatened areas, just as they had recently done here. No one was left in the town except Maw and his Padawan.

At least that was the theory.

In reality, the Jedi Master spotted two figures atop the flat-roofed building less than a kilometre away. Only four stories high, it was still the tallest building in the area. They were Gran, like himself. And armed. Maw opened his comm and called his Padawan, Sorel.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Certain he hadn’t been seen by anyone, Maw reached the side of the four-story building and glanced upwards. One guard was directly above him and the other would be across the roof. It was vital that he silence both before they could give alarm – assuming the young woman was alive.

The Jedi brought his saber to bear silently, holding it in his right hand as he let the balance within him slip into the dark side. He knew the dark side well; he dwelled too deeply in it once and it got him sent to the AgriCorps once – for solitary reflection and meditation until he returned to the balance. Right now he needed to use aggression, however, which meant channelling the dark side. Of course he didn’t tell his Padawan – she wouldn’t understand. He eased into it with a comfortable familiarity while he crouched and then jumped straight upward, letting the Force carry him. He cleared the edge of the roof, right in front of the very surprised Gran guard, and without hesitation his saber snap-hissed to life and he slashed it across the guard’s neck. He died silently.

The other guard sensed something amiss and started to turn. Maw gestured with the Force and pulled him across the roof. The guard gasped for a moment before being impaled on the saber. Their eyes met and Maw recognized him. One of his brother’s personal guards. The guard’s eyes registered recognition as well, and then life faded from them. Maw felt his death in the Force and part of him, the part that fed on the dark side, delighted in it. And he felt a deep satisfaction.

The Jedi let the body slide off his saber and took a deep breath, centring himself again in the light side. It was tempting for him to just stay in the dark side as had once before. It was seductive but dangerous – especially with his Padawan around. And he still hadn’t explained to her why he’d taken the mission, or why he wanted her with him.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Maw found a stairway in the middle of the roof leading down into the building and descended cautiously. Two floors down were two large rooms on either side of the stairwell, the doors left wide open in the haste of the evacuation. At first look, they appeared to have been used as dormitories.

Hugging the wall. Maw glanced through the doorway and found the young woman. She was bound and gagged on a cot next to the wall opposite the door. A large and surly looking Gran stood guard, a slug thrower at the ready, but he was looking at the far end of the room.

Focusing his senses through the Force, the Jedi heard two more Gran at the other end of the dormitory. Neither sounded happy.

“...thought this would be over by now!”

“You got other things to do?”

“Other than sit next to a karking volcano? Yes!”

“The problem is that Jedi girl, blocking our escape. Not for long, though. Our contact will take care of her. Then we off the woman, leave the corpse where it can be found, and get gone.”

Maw didn’t risk comming a warning to Sorel. His best bet was to settle things here and hope his Padawan was still alive. However, the moment he made a move, the two guards at the end of the room would see him and the guard closest to the woman would almost certainly kill her. He needed a diversion.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

The volcano provided a spectacular one. Ahead of schedule, the eruption started with a clap of thunder as plumes of pumice, flaming ash, and molten lava were belched into the air. Everyone was stunned for a moment, but then Maw moved. His saber in his right hand, he swept into the room. Using the Force to propel the guard standing next to the woman into the wall, he misjudged slightly as the guard’s finger tightened on the trigger of his slug thrower as he dropped; the shot went wild but was audible even over the roaring volcano.

Maw pivoted towards the two other guards and sped towards them as they turned to the source of the slug fire and spotted him. A moment for their reaction. A few steps for Maw.

A moment as they brought their slug throwers around. Another few steps. They aimed their weapons. Maw threw himself into a forward roll beneath their shots and pushed off of one leg as he came forward and up. Flipping in mid-air over the guards, the Jedi Master shoved his boot down hard into the upturned face of the one to his right. Nose bone and cartilage cracked as the Gran fell backwards. The Jedi landed, spun, and thrust his saber into the fallen Gran’s chest — a quick and clean kill. His partner kept firing, but always where the Jedi had been. Maw landed in a crouch and, with a gesture of his hand, delivered a Force blow that sent his target backwards through the window. The Gran’s scream was covered by the volcano’s roar.

Maw preferred not to kill when he had the option, but there was no time and no other choice. Still, the dark part in him exulted and he struggled to bring himself back to the balance.

Maw squatted next to the woman. “I’m Jedi Master Maw. My Padawan and I have been sent here to rescue you. Try to be calm.” Picking the young woman up, Maw threw her over one shoulder and raced back up to the roof. Superheated volcanic debris rained down on the town, the wooden buildings starting to catch fire. Maw again tried to warn Sorel, but the ash jammed the comm’s signal.

It was hard to see through the ash and the Jedi tightened his grip on the girl. Calling on the Force once more, he leaped to the next nearest roof, ran across, and then jumped to the next roof after that. He could barely breathe and was jumping blind, but he hoped he could trust in the Force that he was taking them out of danger.

And that Sorel was not dead.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel leaned against the wall. The mission was very quiet from where she was, stationed next to the suspect’s ship. They couldn’t leave any other way, so she was the mission’s back-stop. One of the hangar mechanics brought her a cup of stimcaf. She took it to be polite but she was fourteen, and caf was frowned upon for one so young. So she raised the cup to her lips — and paused. She knew the bouquet of the drink and something bitter underlay the aroma.

She turned her head to glance at the man who had given it to her: a nervous little man. Fear came off him like a wave, a bitter aroma all of its own. He turned to run. She caught him with the Force, lifted him up, and dropped him onto the floor. She put the mug in front of his face. “I think this stimcaf is off. Please. Taste it.”

The man’s eyes went wide as he babbled incoherently.

“I insist, please drink it, or I will make you drink it.” She didn’t have that ability, but then he wasn’t to know that.

The man certainly believed she was capable. “No! It’s poisoned!” he blurted.

She folded her arms, keeping her eyes on her would-be assassin. Her comm buzzed. “Master?”

“Sorel, someone is going to–”

“Yes, I know, Master. He tried and failed. Do you have the woman?”

Yes,” Maw said, “But we have another problem. Something I should have told you before.” Even now he couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth. There were two problems – and big ones.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

A short while later, Master Maw and the young girl entered the spaceport. It was outside of the volcano’s range, so was relatively busy – even at this late hour. The kidnapped girl was now walking but still seemed shaken by the whole event.

Sorel walked over to meet the two half-way between the ship she was guarding and the entrance. She bowed formally to her Master and smiled to the young woman. “Nobody has entered the ship in all this time, Master,” she said, but her focus was on his face. He looked flustered, concerned too. But before he could reply, she was aware the landing ramp of the freighter was lowering. “I…I…” she was at a loss for words. “I never thought to check there was anyone on board, I am sorry Master.”

Master Maw waved his hand dismissively and pushed the young girl he was escorting behind him. “Take cover,” he said quietly, and she scurried to take up a position behind some crates.

The two Jedi faced the ship as a figure emerged from the cargo bay. It was another Gran. And it looked remarkably like her Master. Now many ignorant people were unable to tell members of non-human species apart. She was once counted in that number. But spending so much time around Maw, she could tell instantly when she met another Gran, how different they were. But this one? He looked a lot like her Master.

“Hello Maw,” the newcomer said.

“Hello Yee,” her Master replied. “Sorel, meet my brother, the mastermind behind the kidnapping.”

Sorel’s words failed her. She looked from one to the other, unsure what to do.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

It seems that words escaped everyone as Maw drew his saber a fraction of a second before his brother opened fire with his blaster. Sorel’s first instinct was to protect the young woman as the crates she was hiding behind took a direct hit and exploded. The young Padawan saw her be thrown backwards – but was relieved to find that apart from a few cuts and bruises, she was alive and well. So she dragged her behind another ship and left her there, keen to help her Master.

Yee was still at the landing ramp of his old VCX-100, that looked the worse for wear and seemed an odd choice for the leader of a crime syndicate. Perhaps that was why he chose it? But such thoughts were distractions as she took her training saber and ran forward. But no sooner had she activated it than it received a blast from a shot her Master deflected behind him.

She dropped it and wondered what to do next. Her training was basic and she was as likely to be a hindrance as a help to Master Maw. Perhaps sensing this, the Gran Jedi turned to look at her and as he opened his mouth to speak, he took a shot to the stomach and fell to his knees, his saber rolling from his grip.

His brother advanced, “Sorry Maw, but business is business.”

Yet before he could pull the trigger again, Maw lifted his hand and red lightning arced from his fingers and slammed into the other Gran.

Sorel was dumbfounded. Her Master was using the dark side? After al of her teaching, much at his hand, he was using the dark side? She ran forwards as he slumped to the ground, his brother now lying dead, skin charred and his clothes smoking. Sorel fell to her knees and supported Maw’s head with her hands. “Master?” It was all she could say as the tears flowed.

“I’m sorry my Padawan,” he said, his voice low and raspy. “I should have told you about my brother and you should never have found out about me and the dark side. I have failed you, I am sorry. You are a good student. Find another Master and complete your training. But promise me, you’ll never succumb to the dark side. Promise me. Please.” He spluttered out the final few words.

Sorel cradled his head. “Don’t go Master, Don’t go.” The tears were uncontrollable now. “You could never fail me and yes, of course, I promise.” She gazed into his eyes, that now appeared glassy and lifeless. And she sat there, unable to move as her body racked with the spasms of sobs.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

She didn’t know how long she sat there. She was aware the young woman joined her and was crying too. Which seemed to act as a catalyst to pull herself together. She stood and collected her Master’s saber, clipping it to her belt. Then she loaded the two Gran brothers onto her ship with the aid of a couple of port workers, who finally braved the hangar to see what had happened. And finally she comforted the young woman – probably three or four years her senior, before taking her onto the ship.

Then she plotted a course to take the girl back to her family. Once they entered hyperspace, Sorel realised why the Gran had used this ship. Externally it was an average, slightly dilapidated light-freighter. Internally it was brand new, state of the art technology – with greater speed and shields than a ship of this type should have.

Once she returned the woman to her family, she asked them to contact the Jedi and confirm the mission was a success but that Master Maw lost his life in the rescue and that his Padawan – Sorel – would return to Ossus presently. But she didn’t of course. Firstly she went to Malastare, and returned the bodies of the two brothers to their family. She avoided sharing too many details, other than to say both gave their life in the rescue of a kidnapped heiress.

And once she left orbit, she wondered what to do. Returning to Ossus was too soon. She had a ship and a little money that was on board – enough to live for two years if she was frugal. What she needed was time and space. To make sense of the last few days and plan her future. Once she was comfortable in her mind – or if the money ran out – she’d head back to the Republic Jedi Academy on Ossus. Seek a new Master and pick up from where she left off.

She unclipped her Master’s saber and stared at it. It wasn’t hers and wondered why she didn’t hand it over to his family. But something told her to hang on to it. That she’d need it. Wherever she was going.