The heavy blast doors of the Theed hangar slid open with a mechanical groan, revealing a figure cloaked in darkness. Standing still amidst the stark lighting and steel columns, the Sith Lord waited — as if the galaxy itself had paused for his arrival.
Darth Maul stepped forward, his black robes swirling with measured intensity. His face, a crown of crimson and ink-black tattoos, was impassive — emotionless. Yellow, burning eyes locked onto the Jedi.
Qui-Gon Jinn narrowed his gaze.
Obi-Wan felt the shift in the air, the subtle tremor of the Force. Danger. Rage. Precision.
Maul reached for his belt.
The snap-hiss of a lightsaber echoed — but this time, it was different.
One blade flared to life.
Then another.
The red glow of his double-bladed saber bathed the hangar in crimson light.
Obi-Wan's breath hitched. "Master…"
"I know," Qui-Gon said quietly.
Then the Sith charged.
Clash of Titans
Maul struck first — a furious whirlwind of motion, his twin blades spinning in blinding arcs. Qui-Gon met him head-on, blocking high, then low, absorbing the ferocity with calm precision.
Obi-Wan flanked, bringing his blue saber down toward Maul's back — only to be caught by the trailing edge of the Sith's second blade.
CRASH!
Sparks showered across the floor.
The clang of saber-on-saber echoed through the massive chamber, vibrating through metal and bone alike.
Maul fought like a storm incarnate — no wasted movement, no hesitation. His style was a brutal, acrobatic fusion of speed and aggression. Every blow forced the Jedi backward.
But they were ready.
Obi-Wan ducked low and spun, feinting left before striking right. Qui-Gon moved with calm rhythm, his green blade forming a steady wall of defense against Maul's rage.
The Sith pushed harder — flipping over the Jedi, twisting mid-air and landing in a crouch before striking again, fast as a laser bolt.
The Force Unleashed
Maul suddenly extended a hand.
BOOM.
A burst of Force energy flung Obi-Wan across the hangar. He crashed into a stack of cargo containers, groaning as they toppled around him.
Qui-Gon gritted his teeth and pressed forward alone. His saber clashed against Maul's in a flurry of strikes — green and red colliding again and again, humming like a chorus of fury.
Their footwork was perfect — two warriors dancing on the edge of life and death. Maul struck low; Qui-Gon deflected and countered high. He spun, arced over Maul's head, slashing down — but the Sith blocked with the shaft of his hilt, twisting and retaliating in one seamless move.
Obi-Wan Returns
Obi-Wan burst back into the fray with a primal shout, his saber angled for Maul's back. The Sith barely turned in time, catching the attack and pushing both Jedi back again with a fierce spin.
"Together," Qui-Gon breathed.
Obi-Wan nodded.
The two Jedi surged forward, their blades striking in harmony — one high, one low, testing Maul's defenses, forcing him to parry at impossible angles.
Maul's expression never changed.
Only his pace quickened.
He flipped backward onto a high platform, using the Force to vault up. The Jedi followed, jumping after him in synchronized pursuit.
Now the fight raced through the power core of the palace — narrow bridges, humming energy beams, high scaffolding where a single misstep meant death.
The Laser Gates
The fight spilled into the central energy conduit — a massive hall filled with humming red force fields that snapped open and shut with mechanical timing.
Maul darted ahead, passing through one of the gates just as it slammed shut behind him.
Obi-Wan skidded to a stop, slamming his fists against the field.
Qui-Gon, trapped in the center section, dropped into a meditative stance. His saber deactivated. He knelt, breathing slow, letting the Force guide him.
Maul paced like a caged animal, his saber ignited, eyes locked on Qui-Gon through the shimmering red field.
Obi-Wan's hand gripped his lightsaber tighter. The next gate was about to open.
The Fatal Moment
Bzzzt.
The field dropped.
Qui-Gon surged forward.
Their sabers clashed violently — Maul roaring with fury, Qui-Gon defending with purpose. Blow after blow rang out in the confined chamber, energy beams casting flashing shadows on their faces.
Then — a shift.
A single mistake. A breath too long.
Maul spun his saber, striking Qui-Gon in the face with the hilt — stunning him.
The next move came like lightning.
THUNK.
The red blade pierced Qui-Gon's chest.
Obi-Wan screamed as the gates dropped again — too late.
Qui-Gon collapsed, his saber clattering to the floor.
Obi-Wan's knees hit the metal walkway. His eyes burned with disbelief.
Maul stared at him, silent and cold.
The Padawan's Fury
The final gate opened.
Obi-Wan charged, pure fury in motion.
Their sabers met mid-air — blue and red, light and dark. Obi-Wan's strikes came fast and unrelenting, each one a desperate blow fueled by loss.
Maul deflected — grinning now — feeding off the chaos.
Kicks, blocks, force pushes. Sparks filled the air.
Maul nearly knocked Obi-Wan over the edge, but the Jedi caught a pipe, flipping back up in a sweeping slash that Maul barely avoided.
The duel had become personal.
The two warriors clashed along the narrow edge of the reactor shaft, blades arcing wide.
Then — Maul forced Obi-Wan back with a powerful kick.
The Padawan fell.
He barely caught a ledge far below, hanging over the void.
Maul paced above him, smug, victorious.
But Obi-Wan reached out with the Force — not for Maul.
For Qui-Gon's saber.
It flew to his hand.
With one leap, he soared upward.
SLASH.
A single, clean stroke.
Maul froze.
Then his body split — falling into the depths below.
End of Chapter 14.