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Author	Topic: Dawn of a New Age:An AU of ROTS-if Anakin allowed Mace to kill Sidious - updated 9/17
Spyman290 Registered: Jun '06	Date Posted: 5/16 8:24pm Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. WILL BE UPDATED NO LATER THEN FRIDAY!!!!
	<--- Is waiting excitedly for promised post
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Milteck Registered: Jul '06	Date Posted: 5/17 12:59am Subject: Feedback
	Waylela wrote: Great chapter and very intense. I hope Anakin can get to Yoda in time to save him. I hope Anakin will make it as well. The Jedi Order wouldn't be the same without Yoda. ******* Spyman290 wrote: <--- Is waiting excitedly for promised post The time has come, it will be posted shortly -----signature----- Milteck Vector Prime: A New Beginning: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26806805/p1/?4 Dawn of a New Age: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25874280/p1/?241 Trial by Fire: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28846017/p1
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Milteck Registered: Jul '06	Date Posted: 5/17 1:03am Subject: Author Note:
	Thank you all for your patience It is technically still Friday night for me so I am posting this latest chapter now after I have gone through it. I had hoped to include the big battle finale' in the Great Hall, but that is going to have to wait. This is Part 1 of the Duel of Fates between Obi-Wan and Maul. I worked hard on this duel and hope you all enjoy it. It is a little long, but really wanted to make it as tense as possible. It starts kind of slow, but then picks up and the adrenaline doesn't stop pumping until the very end. Your feedback will be appreciated Hope you enjoy. -----signature----- Milteck Vector Prime: A New Beginning: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26806805/p1/?4 Dawn of a New Age: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25874280/p1/?241 Trial by Fire: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28846017/p1
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Milteck Registered: Jul '06	Date Posted: 5/17 1:12am Subject: CH 38 - Date Edited: 5/21 12:58pm (2 edits total) Edited By: Milteck
	Duel of Fates - Part ! “It’s your move.” Obi-Wan reiterated. He allowed Maul to cross the threshold and enter the Inner Sanctum, but no further until he made his intentions clear. It was impossible to believe that the Sith Lord truly wanted to escape, but Obi-Wan would allow him the opportunity despite his reservations. There was simply too much was at stake. With all the lives in the library and the Great Hall relying on him, it would be reckless on his part not to allow Maul to escape; if that was what he truly wanted. Regardless; Obi-Wan vowed that one way or the other the battle between them would end, here and now. Everything depended on it. It was not surprising that Maul chose to test him. He took another step toward him, intent on testing Obi-Wan’s steely resolve while also looking for a hint of weakness that the Sith Lord could use against him. Obi-Wan felt the Sith Lord prod him with the Force, trying to find a crack in his wall of defenses that he could he could use to bring down his guard completely. But Obi-Wan stood fast. He fought fervently to cloak his emotions and fears he was feeling at that moment. Maul grew frustrated after being unable to break through the Force barrier that Obi-Wan had raised to defend himself from Maul’s attacks and backed down. Obi-Wan stood confidently before his opponent, giving Maul the impression that not only was he prepared to continue this battle and settle things between them, but that he could win. “Don’t make me destroy you,” Obi-Wan warned. There was no response from the cold warrior and for the first time he seemed to be withdrawn, closing in on himself in his solitude that long masked himself in the shadows. Though unfazed by Kenobi’s warning, the Sith Lord took no further steps forward and instead began to pace back and forth along an invisible line like a predator who was stalking his prey. It seemed fitting to Obi-Wan that Maul now resembled the lone wolf he long remembered. Maul was the perfect warrior, trained from birth to kill Jedi and bring chaos to the galaxy. What made him different from Asajj Ventress was he could actually do all the things she could merely threaten and left in his wake nothing but chaos and destruction. The slaying of his master Qui-Gon and the slaughter of so many Jedi here today was a testament to the monstrosity that stood before him now. It made allowing Maul to escape almost impossible to bear, but Obi-Wan alleviated that tension by reminding himself it was better to live to fight another day then not at all. Even if meant more innocent souls must be sacrificed to feed this monster, at least those Obi-Wan most cared about would be safe and he could later face Maul on his own terms. There was simply too much at stake to risk trying to finish him off now, though Kenobi couldn’t help but bite his lip with the pain of wondering how many more would suffer because he failed to act. Yet the stalemate between them remained. Maul continued to pace back and forth while Obi-Wan continued to battle the growing doubts of allowing him to leave. It was like the energy barrier from the cooling pit on Naboo was once again raised between them and this time it was a battle of wills that set them apart. Each waited for the other to make the next fateful move that would force the other to react. Obi-Wan gave no further ground or any room to doubt that this would end one way or the other, depending on the choice Maul made. The tension was increasingly growing on Obi-Wan’s shoulders, believing that Maul should have made up his mind by now and was simply waiting for him to his make move. It made the stalemate all the more tense between them, since Obi-Wan was committed not to be the one who acted first. Obi-Wan felt confident about victory, but his thoughts drifted back to his former master and how he had died. The Jedi had chronicled what had happened on Naboo as a Duel of Fates, one that was revered among the present generation as one of the most famous duels between the Jedi and Sith. He now stood on an elite pantheon of Jedi Knights who adorned the very walls in the Inner Sanctum and whose story of avenging his fallen master to slay the Sith monster was told with great fervor throughout the ranks. Yet despite the triumph, it was also looked upon as a lucky strike that allowed a mere Padawan to topple a far more superior foe. Those, like Master Windu, patted him on the back for a job well done, though in truth they really believed that he was lucky to be alive. Now Maul stood before him and gave him the opportunity to once and for all silence those among his colleagues who believed he didn’t deserve all the accolades he received for killing Maul; namely being fast tracked to Jedi Knight without completing the Trials, being allowed to take Skywalker as his apprentice, and lastly having his name included among the pantheon of Jedi who brought down a Sith Lord. Yet despite all that he accomplished, what had happened that fateful day on Naboo still haunted his past and now he had a chance to finally set things right. Much of his service from that day on had been to prove he was worthy of the title he had achieved and pushed himself to be better than those around him, overcoming obstacles that Jedi much more powerful could overcome with ease. He had accomplished much of that by latching onto Anakin and relied on him to do what he could not. Anakin often reminded him during his angry outbursts that he would not be in the position he was without him and it had long formed a rift between them, until now. The only thing Obi-Wan held over him to hold Anakin back was his authority to do so as his master and the trust they held for one another. Ultimately it was the trust that kept them together and made them inseparable as brothers. In fact; he had become so dependent on Anakin that it felt awkward to fight this battle without him and not ne able to rely on his skills to watch his back or, admittedly, save him. The Clone Wars has earned him a lot of respect from his peers and earned the reputation of the ‘Negotiator’ due to there being no mission he was assigned that he couldn’t accomplish. Now he was one the highest respected members on the council, but there was still that itch that never seemed to go away that he didn’t truly deserve it. He destroyed Grievous on his own, but it was relatively easy compared to a full-fledged Sith Lord, who despite how terrifying the cyborg was, Obi-Wan was able to easily overcome the terror tactics Grievous used through his Force advantage and Soresu technique. Though credited with slaying Dooku, the truth of the matter was that he was no match for him. He was knocked out rather easily during the fight and relied on Anakin to deal with him. The only reason he was credited at all for Dooku’s death was because Anakin never told the Council that he had been knocked out during the fight, leaving them to assume they had done it together. If they had known that Anakin had carried him unconscious on his back while saving the Chancellor, his colleagues would not be as quick to praise him as a hero. That distinction belonged to Anakin. It always would. Throughout the entire War, he had relied more heavily on Anakin than he did on him to survive battle after battle, making Obi-Wan often wonder how long he would’ve actually lasted if Anakin hadn’t been there by his side. It was no abbreviation on the truth that Skywalker had saved him countless times, nine to be exact – though they constantly argued over the exact number. He honestly owed Skywalker his life many times over, and by watching over his family it was the first act between them to pay off that debt that in truth could never be repaid. Allowing Maul to leave now would not be frowned upon and his colleagues would praise his actions as the only sensible thing he could do. The Jedi Council would pat him on the back for not giving in to the dark side or as Yoda might express as: ‘becoming that which you destroy.’ Yet deep down, Obi-Wan knew he would always regret allowing Maul to escape. He knew he should’ve finished him now when he had the chance. He wished at that moment he could give into his feelings as Anakin often did and allow them, not his Jedi dogma, to move him to act. Anakin wasn’t the only one capable of this. Master’s Yoda and Windu were capable of stepping over that invisible line that existed between principle and righteousness, good and evil, dark side and the light. Anakin made it look easy and crossed the line without even having to think about it. It made him highly unpredictable and at times dangerous, but in that state of mind he was virtually invincible against any adversary who crossed his path. Master Windu’s own fighting style of Vaapad was based on pushing himself closer and closer to the dark side, sometimes even dipping over the edge, but never embracing it. That was something Obi-Wan could not do. He could not bring himself to cross over the line in a fair fight and made him realize that he could never defeat Maul in a fair fight. Obi-Wan would put up a good fight and possibly even take him to the limit, but in the end he would be destroyed like his master because he refused to cross that barrier that he must in order to destroy such monsters. If he fell, the Jedi who survived who still praise him in his bravery and for putting up the good fight. But Mace and Anakin would know deep down that he fell because he wasn’t capable of doing what had to be done in order to defeat such monsters. He was unwilling to give into the dark side. Unwilling to open that door, for he was afraid he would be unable to close it afterwards. He felt almost the same way he did back when he stood behind that energy barrier about Maul killed his master. The same fears coursed through him, but like before relied on his Jedi training to overcome his fear and do his duty. He also had to deal bury his feelings of anger and desire for vengeance deep inside his heart. Lastly; he had to resist the temptation of the dark side. It was deja vu all over again. Obi-Wan felt the same adrenaline and fears wash over him again that he felt that day on Naboo after watching helplessly while Maul killed Qui-Gon. It felt like eternity behind those shield barriers as he waited for his chance to face the man who had killed his master, yet like before he also wasn’t prepared to give in to the feelings of vengeance. He wasn’t prepared to do then what he must and he was unsure if he was able to do what he must now. His victory was also widely praised because he defeated Maul without giving into the dark side. It was an example that Master Yoda suggested, “All Jedi should aspire to follow.” Much of his confidence today came not from his victory over Maul, but from destroying the Cyborg Grievous. Except that victory was different because he was not a Force user and Obi-Wan was able to cast aside his fears for destroying him much like one would a droid. He had been able to do then all that was required of him to be victorious. But despite how evil Dooku or Maul was, to kill them would require he push the envelope and risk falling to the dark side himself. He was unable to do it before. He didn’t think he could do it now. Again the fate of the galaxy would be decided in a small circular room, except this time there was no ventilation shaft to decide who lived and who died. This time, Obi-Wan fought for not just his own life, but for Skywalker’s family and the younglings who huddled together helpless in the library. Even the Jedi in the Great Hall depended on him to prevent Maul from taking out the Shield Generator, a target that would doom them all if Maul managed to reach it. Except Maul had yet to make a move toward it and unlike before on Naboo, there was a doorway still open for Maul to seek escape without any more blood being shed. Obi-Wan was intent on allowing Maul the opportunity to escape, if that was what he truly wanted. To live and fight another day was preferable to the alternative of death. Obi-Wan hoped Maul was sane enough to realize that fact. The tension in the air thickened as Maul continued to pace back and forth, unwilling to commit himself to battle or seek out escape. He had reverted to the Shadow Hunter of old, not uttering a word to taunt or insult Kenobi while he considered his options. It left Obi-Wan in an awkward position because he had committed himself to defending this chamber with his life, yet also committed to not be the one who struck first. Maul was forcing him to make the first move and would react based on it. It left Obi-Wan with only one choice. “Well?” Obi-Wan asked directly. “Shall we spurn fate or oblige it?” Again there was no response from Maul, who again took on the mantle of indifference he had projected when an energy shield had separated them on Naboo that fateful day when his master was killed. He had avenged Qui-Gon then, taking Maul’s life with both skill and tremendous luck. He would do so again now if it came to that. If battle was what Maul wanted, Obi-Wan would oblige him and allow chance to decide his fate. He assumed his signature Soresu Stance, the same he had used so effectively against Grievous, and would use it against Maul if he pushed him. He had held his own very well against him so far and felt capable of destroying the Sith Lord, despite how much powerful Maul was compared to last time. Maul brought both of his blades back up as well, but surprisingly also assumed a defensive stance against him. It was the first sign of weakness that Obi-Wan had physically seen in Maul and instantly changed his stance to an aggressive one. He couldn’t hold back any longer and moved in for the attack, forcing Maul to either respond or move toward the Hanger bay. He brought his other hand back up his hilt and angled the tip of his hilt down so that it was pointed directly at Maul’s chest. “There’s no cooling pit this time Maul,” Kenobi reminded him. “But there is a way out. Either take it or I will destroy you.” Again Maul didn’t respond, but he did react from the confidence in Obi-Wan’s composure and steely resolve. There was no fear in Obi-Wan’s eyes, leaving the Sith Lord with nothing he could perceivably use against him to his advantage. Maul didn’t even have a physical advantage over him due to his injuries imposed upon him by Yoda and throughout the battle in the Great Hall leading up to this point. He wasn’t able to put his full weight on his injured leg and from the way he breathed in and out, Obi-Wan could tell he had a couple of broken ribs to go with the variety of scrapes and bruises on his body. The chipped horn on his forehead also stood out as his most ominous disfigurement, which made Obi-Wan wonder how much it hurt to lose a horn or how long it would take to grow back. The only thing he could compare the pain of losing a horn too was having a tooth knocked out. Yet despite the reputation the cold warrior possessed, he surprised Kenobi by lowering his blade and conceded the battle. “Very well Kenobi,” Maul declared. “You win this round.” It was hard to believe, but Obi-Wan watched a Sith Lord lower his guard and turn his back to him to make his way toward the Hanger Bay. Obi-Wan shadowed him step-by-step, and watched for any deception or tricks the Sith Lord might try to employ while keeping his blade honed on his back. He was genuinely surprised he would actually turn his back to him, but also knew that Obi-Wan would never strike down a man when his back was turned to him. He replaced optimism with skepticism, not allowing himself to hope that Maul was genuine in his desire to leave. He would not be content until he watched him boarded a vessel and leave the temple. Until then, this battle between them was not over. “Don’t think you have beaten me,” Maul warned him. “Oh, I wouldn’t think of it.” Obi-Wan could hide the sarcasm or hint of boastfulness from his voice. Maul turned back to glare at him with hatred in his eyes, but Kenobi prodded him onward with his blade honed between his shoulder blades and would not hesitate to strike if Maul gave him an excuse to do so. It was a remarkable experience to see the powerful Sith lord humbled with his tail between his legs as he fled. He could only conclude that Maul wanted their final duel between them to be perfect, with no excuses he could blame himself or Kenobi for if he lost. Obi-Wan basked in his cowardice, savoring every moment of it. It was at that moment of glory that everything changed, starting with a disturbance in the Force that was powerful to stop both Kenobi and Maul in their tracks. Obi-Wan felt the presence of Anakin in the force long before Maul did and watched him sweat with the anxiety in regards to the source. It filled Obi-Wan with joy that Anakin along with the reinforcements had finally come, while Maul gagged from the surge of positive Forge energy the Chosen One left in his wake. The massive explosion in the Great Hall further solidified Obi-Wan’s belief that the battle was won. As Skywalker and his reinforcements swarmed into the temple, the unrelenting blaster fire all but ended the Sith Army’s threat to the Jedi and the battle was all but won. The loss of life was considerable, but the attempt to wipe the Jedi out had failed and they would continue to endure – championing the causes of peace and justice in the Republic. Kenobi smiled with satisfaction and with the Force slammed the doors leading to the Hanger Bay shut. “Kenobi!” Maul furiously turned back toward Obi-Wan. The fury in his eyes told volumes for his feelings of hatred toward him. The look of betrayal and panic was there, but they soon hardened back to the sadistic cold warrior that Obi-Wan had always known. “We had an agreement that ... “An unspoken agreement,” Obi-Wan corrected. “Now you can’t leave.” Before the Sith Lord could respond, Obi-Wan swung his lightsaber down upon the unsuspecting Sith Lord with such force that it forced him into a defensive posture. Maul blocked the blade and retaliated by spinning around with a high kick that caught Obi-Wan squarely in the chest that sent him sprawling backwards. “So be it…” Maul taunted him with an evil smile. “We finish this here and now!” He then rushed forward to finish him off as Obi-Wan groggily got back to his feet after having the wind knocked out of him. Maul took the opening and charged forward, only to instead run head first into a Force wall that Kenobi had invisibly erected in front of him. Obi-Wan followed it up with a Force push that knocked the wind out of Maul and sent him flying backwards. Maul would have flown hard into the wall behind him, had he not extended the blades of his double-bladed lightsaber to full length that enabled them to cut into the marble pillars of the Sanctum. Cracks formed as the blades cut into the pillars and scorched the white surface black from the heat of his weapon. The blades cut about half way through the pillars before it stopped Maul’s backward momentum and left him hanging about a foot off the air. He then simply shut it off to free the weapon and dropped easily back to the floor. Obi-Wan clutched his bruised chest as he regained his footing and had to use the Force to dull the pain. Luckily no ribs were broken, but it once again forced him to assume a defensive position. He had merely had the wind knocked out of him and took in a deep breath to revitalize his body of the oxygen it so desperately needed. He no longer saw any stars and simply brushed off his ruffled robe the foot print that Maul’s boot left behind. “We settle this here and now.” Maul vowed, no longer seeking escape. “Surrender to me and live,” Obi-Wan offered, though noticeably having to choke out the words. There was a large explosion in the Great hall that was followed by unrelenting blaster fire and the cries of the vanquished. This Sith Army was all but destroyed, leaving Maul with nothing left but failure and death if he continued on this path. But Obi-Wan was wrong, There was one thing Maul still clung too: revenge. It now consumed him utterly and left took away any thoughts the Sith Lord had to self preservation or survival. Maul brought his double-bladed lightsaber back to life and charged toward him like an animal no longer trapped in a cage, free now to unleash upon Kenobi the full fury of his hatred. The animal rage was reawakened in Maul as he swung wildly, yet purposely at Obi-Wan with his blade in a series of quick strikes meant to overpower Kenobi’s defenses. Obi-Wan countered by resuming his soresu stance and blocked everything Maul unleashed against him. The technique worked flawlessly and allowed him to stay always one step ahead of the Sith Lord by blocking every sweep and swing of his blade. Each exchange fed Maul’s fury and became bolder with his attacks. “It ends here,” Obi-Wan vowed. “So you keep saying,” Maul taunted. “I wonder if you truly have the nerve to do what must be done.” Obi-Wan couldn’t hide the shock from Maul reading him so well. He masked it as best he could, but it didn’t stop the cold shiver from running up his spine. “I beat you before,” Obi-Wan reminded him, which brought a scowl upon Maul’s face. “I can do it again.” Maul roared in fury, with smoke beginning to pour from his horns, nose, and mouth. The blades of his lightsaber even sparked, becoming enveloped with fire as Maul rose the weapon over his head with both hands like a demented madman, crying out for Obi-Wan’s head. Obi-Wan simply stared in horror, convinced that at any moment Maul would become fully enveloped in flames. “Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?” Obi-Wan asked with good humor. Maul was not amused. With the dark side of the Force, he snapped his fingers and manifested fire all around him, literally setting the floor on fire. Within moments a wave of Force fire came bellowing toward him like a wave from the floor that incinerated everything in its path. Obi-Wan fought the instinct to run and brought up a force field with the Force all around him. The wave of fire manifested all around him, but he didn’t burn as the Force shield protected him. That still didn’t save him from the heat which left him feeling charbroiled, with his robes charred black from the heat, tips of his hair smoked, and it made his skin sizzle. The fire was unable to penetrate the thick doors of the chamber and dissipated upon hitting them, leaving the rest of the chamber in smoking ruins. The magnificent frescoes were scorched from the walls and the chamber itself became fiery inferno as small perpetual flames continued to burn throughout the chamber. Yet that was nothing compared to the horror of watching Maul walking unharmed through the fire, as though he was as much a part of it as it was of him. It left him untouched and only burned everything around him, leaving Obi-Wan feeling very vulnerable and unsure of himself. Fire suppression droids and other systems began to come online to attempt to contain the fire, but the moment they appeared Maul incinerated them with the Force. “Now you know the true scope of my power.” Maul told him. “Pity, me without my garden hose,” Obi-Wan responded, still clinging to his wit. “Is cheap parlor tricks the best you got?” The words incensed Maul. He stretched out the palm of his free hand toward Obi-Wan and declared, “You will all burn, starting with you.” Maul generated more fire from the palm of his hand and with his fingers began to shoot it toward Obi-Wan like Force Lightning. Obi-Wan reacted by bringing his lightsaber up to block the attack and luckily his blade was once again able to absorb the fire to neutralize it. But unlike with lightning, the Force Fire had the added effect of pushing Obi-Wan backwards, not to mention the tremendous heat that resumed to burn all around him. Obi-Wan braced himself as best as he could, but the attack continued to push against him and pushed him backwards toward the wall of flames behind him. Obi-Wan added some Force energy to his defenses and began to push back as Maul sheathed his weapon and brought up his second palm to add a more powerful stream of fire to the attack. Obi-Wan began to push back with the Force, but Maul was simply too strong and the Force could only do so much. The natural counterbalance to fire was water and to the best of his knowledge it was impossible to conjure up water with the Force. Obi-Wan continued to be pushed and dared to look back to see the wall of flames getting closer and closer. His muscles began to ache from the stress of pushing back the fire and knew he couldn’t hold out much longer. “It won’t be long now.” Maul taunted. Obi-Wan saw only one chance for survival and he took it. Before Maul’s attack pushed him back any further, he channeled all the Force he could muster and pushed back not on the fire, but on Maul himself. Maul was caught by surprise and stumbled backwards, interrupting the stream of fire just enough for Obi-Wan to break free and leap toward one of the nearby pillars. Maul screamed in rage and threw a fireball at Obi-Wan, but missed him entirely as Obi-Wan made it safely behind the pillar and braced himself against it. “Clever. Very clever!” Maul cried out. “But it will not be enough to save you.” Obi-Wan was safe for the moment and sighed in relief, but knew it wouldn’t last for long once Maul forced him back into the open. He pulled out his rebreather from his belt and took in a deep breath of clean air that revitalized his lungs. His body convulsed with a fit of coughing and he spit out a phlegm of ashen ugliness that made him sick to his stomach. His eyes burned from the toxins in the air and ashen filled snot flowed down his nose into his whiskers. He wiped his face with his sleeve and immediately brought the rebreather back to his lips and took a few more breathes before he knew he had to put it away to concentrate on the moment. It was becoming very clear that Maul had been saving the good stuff for the end and wondered why he had not used it until now. It was also becoming apparent that if he were to defeat him, then he would need to rely on trickery and deceit to win the day. He dared to take a peak around the corner to see Maul prowling toward him, smoking far more than before and his hands were now completely engulfed in flames – though he doubted the Sith Lord realized it. Upon seeing him, Maul threw another ball of fire at him. Obi-Wan ducked back around the pillar and the flames splashed harmlessly against the beam. “You must be getting tired,” Obi-Wan called out to him. “It must consume you greatly to sustain the fire.” “Don’t concern yourself; Kenobi,” Maul coldly replied. “I have more than enough strength left to finish you off.” “But at what cost?” Obi-Wan asked bluntly, now being deadly serious. Smoke was pouring more profusely out of the Sith Lord’s horns and pours from his skin. It was clear the ability took its toll physically on him every time he used it. Perhaps that is why he chose not to use it because it drained him far more then it let on and with the strength of the Jedi Order in the Great Hall he knew he wouldn’t of lasted long if he had tried unleashing his full capabilities against them there. He had saved it to use against Kenobi, as the means to achieve his revenge. Obi-Wan took great satisfaction at being able to deprive him of that so far. “At what point do you stop being one with the fire and it consumes you completely?” When he got no answer, he knew that Maul had no idea. “You are consuming yourself Maul.” Obi-Wan dared to leave the pillar completely and turn to face Maul who now stood directly across from him. He knew he had only once chance at this and if he failed it was likely he be burned to a crisp before he could try something else. Maul again raised his hands in preparation of another fire attack. He focused on Maul, like he had never focused before, with the Force and suggested with a hand gesture, “You do not need to burn me…” Maul ignited two more balls of fire, but did not release them. “I do not need to burn you…” Maul then proceeded to snuff out the balls of fire in his palms by squeezing them into fists. “You have all you need to destroy me right here…” Obi-Wan suggested, while gesturing to his lightsaber. “Maul unsheathed his weapon and activated both blades. “I have all that I need to destroy you right here…” “Now you die…” Obi-Wan lastly suggested to him, focusing on him with everything he could muster to compel him to attack. At the same time he focused on pushing his knowledge of Force fire to the back of the Sith Lord’s mind. “Now you die!” Maul yelled and charged forward to strike with a fury unlike anything Obi-Wan had felt before. Obi-Wan brought his lightsaber up and managed to block the onslaught of lightsaber attacks that Maul unleashed against him. Yet despite the tenacity of the attacks, Obi-Wan couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face for what he just achieved. “I’ll wipe that smile from you face!” Maul snapped. “Then take your best shot!” Obi-Wan yelled back triumphantly, feeling like he had already won. The chamber continued to smolder around them, but the noxious effects were no longer having the same impact on him as before and the Force was able to shield him from the worst of it. His eyes continued to water and sting from the intense heat, but it was easier for him to breathe now and no longer had to rely on the rebreather. All he had to worry about was Maul and containing the onslaught that was surely to come. Maul charged forward and slammed his lightsaber against Obi-Wan’s with such a Force that it nearly knocked him off his feet. Obi-Wan managed to reset himself and held fast as the Sith Lord continued to attempt to pummel him with furious swings of his twin blades. Obi-Wan was able to parry each of the strikes and counter-attack to throw the Sith Lord out of his attack sequence. The Sith Lord’s strength seemed to increase with each passing moment and left Obi-Wan wondering if it truly was endless or if there was some other source that Maul drew such power from. It wasn’t until he backed off to try something else that Obi-Wan could tell that he was frustrated and that the Sith Lord now was back to square one of trying to figure out how to break him. “I’m going to take you a part a piece at a time Kenobi.” Obi-Wan didn’t respond and didn’t need too. He simply squared himself with Maul and held his lightsaber at the ready position. Anything was better than being burned alive and the mind trick also kept his focus on him until the battle was over. He couldn’t have planned it any better and now all he had to do was to finish what he started. He just prayed that Maul still didn’t have any other tricks up his sleeve, but doubted he had seen everything. The room continued to smolder all around them, with the small fires continuing to consume everything it touched. The marble pillars groaned from being superheated and some of the foundations in the room began to buckle. Sections of ceiling began to fall and the entire room was now filled with toxic smoke that made Obi-Wan’s eyes water and his lungs choke when he took in too deep a breathe. The Force could only do so much in filtering the toxins and the fight was too intense to rely on his rebreather, instead keeping it ready in its pouch to use to take a quick filtered breathe when he needed it. Obi-Wan set himself for the next attack. He raised his lightsaber up into his signature Soresu Stance and just focused on staying alive. Sounds of battle continued to rage in the Great Hall and if he could just keep Maul at bay, the victorious Jedi would come to his rescue and help him defeat Maul. Hungry eyes watched him as Maul closed in again for the kill. Maul didn’t strike until he perceived some weakness in Obi-Wan’s Soresu Stance. He swept the right edge of his double-bladed lightsaber low and tried to take out his legs. Obi-Wan countered this by back flipping up into the air to elude the strike, but when he came back down he found Maul waiting for him. He was barely in time to get his feet set before Maul spun around and swung his blade high enough to decapitate him. Obi-Wan managed to bring his blade back up just in time to block the strike, followed by countering it with a Force push that forced Maul back. Maul raised his double-bladed lightsaber back over his head and spun it so fast that it became nothing but a blur, than lunged forward. One end came down in a savage overhead strike that Obi-Wan was easily able to parry. But that move was only a feint for setting up a slashing attack at the waist from the opposite blade. Only Obi-Wan’s mastery of his Soresu technique managed to save him from being cut in half as instinctively he anticipated where the blade was going to strike and relied on the Force to guide his movement to block it. Maul did not back down and began to pour down on him an unrelenting series of twin slicing moves that pushed Obi-Wan to the limit. Maul turned a simple series of moves into a complicated rhythm of attacks with his twin blades that went from left-right-left-right. He then performed a flurry of strikes again that would start an entirely new sequence of left-right or right-left strikes from his twin blades that was highly difficult to anticipate. Only his mastery of Soresu saved him and seemed to keep him one step ahead of his opponent. “I will break you!” Maul swore. He gripped the hilt of his weapon both out of anger and frustration. “Just like your former master, you will fall to my blade.” The mention of Qui-Gon’s name embittered Obi-Wan and forced a reaction out of him. Obi-Wan surprised even himself by pressing the attack and put Maul on the defensive. He swung his lightsaber aggressively to the left and when Maul blocked it he came at him again and again, swinging his blade repeatedly down on the same spot. Maul blocked each of the strikes and tried to counter by spinning to his right, but Obi-Wan was ready for it and parried the strike with ease. He then resumed swinging his blade back down over and over until he felt Maul wilt and move back. Maul roared and fury and charged back into the fray only to instead receive a drop kick to the jaw in return. Maul looked shocked as he backed away as he brought his left hand up to his jaw. Obi-Wan for the first time realized his Soresu technique more than just mastered the art of defending oneself, it also allowed its master to anticipate an opponent’s moves before they actually happened. Again Maul spun his lightsaber over his head in a blur of brilliantly displayed moves that Obi-Wan all but ignored due to being just for show. Maul howled and charged forward. He twirled his lightsaber in a quick, complex sequence that brought the saber under his right arm, around his back, over his left shoulder, and around the front. He then did it again, only the next time he did the sequence exactly in reverse. Maul’s lightsaber flashed before Obi-Wan so quickly that by the time he finished blocking everything, a look of utter disgust was apparent on Maul’s face. Clearly he had just executed one of his best sequences and it had not even scratched Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan parried the last blow and countered it by backing Maul hard across the face. Maul was dazed by the blow and stumbled backwards. Obi-Wan’s blade sizzled as he swung it in the air and with each strike began to believe he was getting closer and closer to achieving victory. “Had enough, or are you eager for more?” Maul simply laughed and then vanished right before Obi-Wan’s eyes. But this time Obi-Wan was ready for him. Without evening thinking about it he struck the area with a Force push where he believed Maul to be. The Sith Lord cried out in shock after being exposed and was pushed back against one of the smoking pillars with a thud. Obi-Wan was on him before he could vanish again and pinned him against the pillar with his blade. Maul snarled and fought like caged animal trying to break free. He swung and slashed his blade wildly to try and get free, but Obi-Wan pressed his advantage by pushing himself closer and closer to the Sith Lord which turned his twin blades into a hindrance. He no longer had the free space he needed to properly swing the weapon and by crowding him it limited his motions to much more predictable, slower, swings to either the left of the right. Obi-Wan turned into the aggressor and began to pummel the Sith Lord with a barrage of downward lightsaber swings that kept him caged. The pillar became a second defender for Obi-Wan as it prevented Maul from spinning and further hindered the reach of the Sith Lord by stopping his blade every time it cut into the marble; taking chunks out of it with every swipe. Maul scowled in fury every time his blade his blade cut into the marble and had to rip it free in order to block Obi-Wan’s next attack. Over and over, Obi-Wan slammed his lightsaber down on the Sith Lord to pummel his defenses. All Maul could do was brace himself from each attack, and spun his twin blades in every combination he could think of to keep Obi-Wan off him. Maul blocked the next flurry of attacks from Obi-Wan and when they clenched blades he tried to force Obi-Wan back by using merely his physical strength. Obi-Wan responded by slamming his knee into his groin hard enough to make him cry out like a little girl and see stars. In that moment of helplessness, Obi-Wan could’ve finished him as Maul stumbled backwards in agony, all but lowering his defenses. But instead he merely pushed him back into the pillar with the Force and hit him with such Force that it left a made a crack down the middle of it. Maul groaned in agony and slid down what was left of the pillar. The room continued to smolder all around them as Obi-Wan stood triumphantly over him with his lightsaber raised over his head in preparation of bringing down a killing blow. “Surrender to me and live,” Obi-Wan demanded one last time. Maul forced himself to get back up and spat at him, “Finish me, if you think you can, Kenobi. I will have none of your mercy.” Obi-Wan brought his blade down, only to miss him completely as Maul spun completely around and with all of his strength slammed his lightsaber into the base of the pillar. Maul roared in fury as he managed to cut completely through the pillar and sent it tumbling back down toward Obi-Wan and taking along with it much of the ceiling it supported. Obi-Wan leaped to safety, but as he landed he felt a disturbance of the Force unlike anything he had ever felt before. It wasn’t until he realized the direction the pillar was falling that he realized the danger, for it was falling directly toward the library. It was falling with not only enough sufficient Force to rip through the walls, but would crush to death countless innocents that huddled together inside. “No!” Obi-Wan cried out. He tried to use the Force in a vain attempt to catch the pillar, but it was too late. The pillar slammed into the wall and brought it tumbling down along with it. There was nothing he could but watch as the walls came crashing down with a sickening crunch. Obi-Wan’s heart burst as he feared the worst and felt his entire world tumble before his eyes. Thoughts of Skywalker’s beloved Padme and their new born children crushed to death brought tears to his eyes, and this time it wasn’t the toxic smoke that made the tears flow freely. He didn’t even bother wiping the tears from his face, instead turning to find Maul who stood with a grin upon his face as he stood on what was left of the foundations of the pillar. The Sith Lord’s twin blades blazed with hatred, that was only matched by the coldness the Sith Lord exuded toward him as he basked in Obi-Wan’s sorrow. “You thought I didn’t know about those you cared about who huddled behind those walls,” Maul taunted him as he gestured to what ruins remained of the library. It was a grizzly sight that would haunt him always. “Now their deaths will be on your conscience!” “I am going to make you pay for what you have done!” Obi-Wan’s grief turned to hatred as he fell the dark side began to swell inside him until it began to boil through every pour in his body. He felt the same way after seeing Qui-Gon die and once again he had failed to be there when it had mattered the most. A vain hope clung to him that somehow they survived, but when he reached out to the Force he could feel nothing in the ruins of the library. Again, he felt the pain of their loss grip him and like before on Naboo there was now only one thought that consumed him: revenge. Whether he turned or not, he no longer cared. All he cared about was avenging all those who had been lost today and making Maul pay for it with his life. There would be no offers of mercy any longer and his hand will not hesitate to deliver a kill blow with his blade at the next opportunity. Once again, the fate of the galaxy would be decided by the two men squared off against each other in the fiery inferno of what was once the heart of the Jedi Temple. With the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance, a second Duel of Fates was now at hand. -----signature----- Milteck Vector Prime: A New Beginning: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26806805/p1/?4 Dawn of a New Age: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25874280/p1/?241 Trial by Fire: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28846017/p1
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Spyman290 Registered: Jun '06	Date Posted: 5/17 5:07am Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. Updated with Part 1 of Duel of Fates. 5/17
	Drat you have my heart really going but i can't review it now so i will review it later but fyi its really good!!!!!
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JediMaster_Jen Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 5/17 10:54am Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. Updated with Part 1 of Duel of Fates. 5/17
	Amazing post!! I'm on the edge of me seat. I sure hope Obi-Wan can reign in his emotions. Looking forward to the next chapter. -----signature----- "Qui tacet consentit"~~ (silence implies consent) Red Wings Rock!!!!!!!
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Darth_Drachonus Registered: Oct '05	Date Posted: 5/17 3:17pm Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. Updated with Part 1 of Duel of Fates. 5/17
	Woot! I got the update! -----signature----- Don't **** with a Jedi Master son-Luke Skywalker
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Hewes Registered: Feb '08	Date Posted: 5/17 6:14pm Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. Updated with Part 1 of Duel of Fates. 5/17
	Wow. That was cool. I thought the discussion of Obi-Wan's abilities (or his assessment as a lack thereof) was very interesting. Would Anakin have a similar view of his own abilities, I wonder, since he too has been put on a pedestal as the Chosen One. I have to say, I really liked the moment when Obi-Wan mind-tricked Maul into not using the fire. Very clever and effective too. I don't know whether I believe that everyone in the library is dead. Maybe Maul is blocking Obi-Wan from being able to sense anyone in there so he'll feel that guilt Maul is talking about? Either way, it seems to be backfiring on him. But somehow, it seems to me that an evil Obi-Wan is a bad thing. I know Anakin can't always be the calvary arriving to save the day, but it feels like now would be a good time for him to show up and bring our guy back to his senses. There are other things out there to still live and strive toward. -----signature----- Found on the CoH Boards: "You know, the Emperor should have thought about that BEFORE he started barbequing Luke. If a man killed most of the Jedi Order to save his family, it's generally unwise to try to kill his son in front of him. Just saying."
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Raptor517 Registered: Sep '06	Date Posted: 5/17 9:28pm Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. Updated with Part 1 of Duel of Fates. 5/17 - Date Edited: 5/17 11:33pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Raptor517
	Yes! I was hoping this was going to be updated soon! Good to have you back! I bet Padme and company already left the library. Still, Obi had better be careful not to slip into the dark side now. Awesome update, as always. Raptor517 BTW, Metamorphosis has been updated. -----signature----- Piercing the Darkness http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28010631/p1/?1 His Brother's Words http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/26020497/p1/?3 Metamorphosis http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/24997946/p5/?7 Hunter's Vendetta http://
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Milteck Registered: Jul '06	Date Posted: 5/18 12:34am Subject: Metamorphisis
	It is good to be back. I just finished reading your update and really enjoyed it. Btw: Jef is not really dead!!! You know it and I know it. I'll just wait to read about it in a future update -----signature----- Milteck Vector Prime: A New Beginning: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26806805/p1/?4 Dawn of a New Age: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25874280/p1/?241 Trial by Fire: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28846017/p1
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Anakins_Kiss Registered: Jan '06	Date Posted: 5/18 9:13am Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. Updated with Part 1 of Duel of Fates. 5/17
	riveting duel. Loved the banter. well done. -----signature----- Learn to HATE Padme. http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/27568604/p1/?1 STAR WARS MUSIC VIDEOS http://www.youtube.com/user/luckiwondr
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Darth_Kripp Registered: Oct '05	Date Posted: 5/18 2:22pm Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. Updated with Part 1 of Duel of Fates. 5/17
	Terrific fight, and once again, Maul and Obi-Wan are even, be it on physical or on psychological grounds! What did Anakin feel? I wonder if this event in the Library will tip him towards the Dark Side or not. In any case, the consequences will be dire. -----signature----- "Use my knowledge, I beg you!" (Chancellor Palpatine) The Forcefather (ESB AU): http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=23789577&brd=10476&start=23817802 The Defendant's pleading (RotJ AU): http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/26069511/p1
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Milteck Registered: Jul '06	Date Posted: 5/20 7:12am Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. Updated with Part 1 of Duel of Fates. 5/17
	Jedimaster_jen wrote: Amazing post!! I'm on the edge of me seat. I sure hope Obi-Wan can reign in his emotions. Looking forward to the next chapter. Thanks for your feedback My goal was to make the update very tense and am happy that I've suceeded. -----signature----- Milteck Vector Prime: A New Beginning: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26806805/p1/?4 Dawn of a New Age: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25874280/p1/?241 Trial by Fire: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28846017/p1
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Daramin_of_The_Way Title: Spokane Fan Force Chapter Rep Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 5/20 6:21pm Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. Updated with Part 1 of Duel of Fates. 5/17
	Welcome back, with a gripping update, as always. I would say that Anakin has rubbed off on Obi-wan a lot, and Obi-wan's weaknesses are showing up in rare form. Interesting character development. I guess part of it is simply the fact that even the greatest Jedi have some weakness towards the dark side, even those we think would never turn, like Yoda or Obi-wan. It's hard to see the Jedi so weak. -----signature----- Jesus loves you all! "The first time we were rehearsing these fights we started making the sound effects of the lightsabers. We kind of looked at each other and said, 'Ok we have to stop that." Liam Nesson on lightsaber fighting
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megacrafter2 Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 5/21 6:01am Subject: RE: Dawn of a New Age: An AU Ending of ROTS. Updated with Part 1 of Duel of Fates. 5/17
	being a while since i last reviewed, that was a really cool chapter. and is it just me or is everyone ignoreing the fact that the twins, padame, and (i think) the younglings have just been crushed to death? thou i expect that they will 'somehow' survive.
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