Darth Maul (Patreon)

…………………………………….

Hector P.O.V.

“Knock you in your head with my stick ♫

♪ With my stick ♪

You gon' have a mark from my stick♫

♪ From my stick ♪

♪ My stick, my stick ♪

♪ My stick is better than bacon ♪

Mmm—ah—ha—ha—hmmm ♬”

I was singing the best fan-made Star Wars song while staring at the vastness of the Star Wars universe through a glass wall when I noticed a strange silence around me.

“...” Turning around, I see Padmé and her people looking at me strangely. “What? You can’t touch my stick♫…”

“Be serious.” Padmé glares at me. Not only me, but everyone else.

Geez, it seems the threat of death and possible loss of autonomy over their own planet really kills people’s mood. Maybe I should have sung about the seagulls…

“What is the plan again?” I ask 

“We can’t win in a direct confrontation. We don’t have the numbers for that.” She says

She has me, but I am not gonna brag too much; she will not believe it anyway.

“...so we must capture their leader. Viceroy Nute Gunray is inhabiting the palace, and we know that place and every secret passage.” She explains “With the viceroy in our hands, we will force them out of the planet. Then we will keep them till the Senate makes a move.”

“Would they say something about your… violent move?” I ask, curious

“They wouldn’t dare. In front of the whole republic, the Trade Federation declared that they are not harming our citizens in any way, that I am exaggerating their actions. What are they gonna say now? That we captured them while they are occupying Naboo?” She retorts with a strong voice

“I see… Are you finally willing to play on the two boards, Your Highness?” I smile “You can’t win if you don’t even face your opponent. The Senate can’t fight your battles for you.”

She stares at me, not arguing against the obvious. I warned her, but she needed to see to believe, leaving Coruscant disappointed.

“Do you want me to kidnap the viceroy for you?” I suggest

“Can you do that?” She asks, surprised, before shaking her head “No, it will be easier if us… We know the layout of the palace. I just need you protect me. You are strong, right? It is what you told me…” She challenges

Okay, now I need to show off… The only display of ability I revealed was me sneaking up on her and Qui-Gon not outright telling me to fuck off. I guess he felt that I was something else and told Padmé that it would be better to have me on their side.

Woosh

“Bang, bang, bang…” I use my speed combined with the power of the Rabiit Talsiman to move behind her and poke Padmé, her chief of security, and Nabé on their necks

Woosh

Another step, and in front of them, smiling at their wide eyes.

“Like I said when we first met, Your Highness. If you need to use violence, I am your answer.” I bow exaggeratedly with a hand over my heart. “I don’t know how I compare with a Jedi, but at least I am not bound by their peaceful ways.”

I don’t think she has words by being so vulnerable in my presence, so she just slowly nods. It is inevitable, really. People always get tense if a gun is pointed at them, and I, relatively close to anyone, am more dangerous than any gun; people just don’t see the threat.

“The plan was to make a distraction while we sneak into the palace and capture the viceroy.” Padmé says with a pensive expression. “But now, maybe we should make a distraction while you capture him.”

“Hmm, I feel that I will be needed elsewhere.” I comment 

“What do you mean?”

“The viceroy is just a normal guy, right?”

“Yes…”

“Then I should be the one holding whatever is there to stop us… Guards, droids, whatever, and you go capture the guy.” Just prevent Darth Maul from killing you guys. “I can create a very good distraction, causing explosions somewhere and attracting the grunts while you go capture the rich guy.”

“Are you sure about that? There will be a lot of concentrated power on you…” Padmé says, maybe worried “A small army.”

“I also have a lot of destructive power, and it will be very easy to sneak away with my speed.” I explain

We talked a little more, but in reality, I was waiting for the conversation to shift to the canon plot. For two reasons… One, I know that I will probably be stuck with Maul, like the Jedi.

Two, the people of Naboo need to make an alliance with the Gungans. So… Anytime now, Jar Jar, you useless piece of…

“My’ve an idea!” He shouts suddenly while pointing a long finger to the ceiling.

Everyone looks at him with very low expectations, but we remained silent to allow this guy with zero credibility to talk… We are nice like that.

“Wesa can talkie witda gungans!” He reveals excitedly “Convince dem ta fight wit uss-ems. Gungans can halp. Gungans warriors bimbam.”

“Bimbar? What the fuck is bimbam?” I can’t help but mutter “But ignoring that, the threat of an army would be the best distraction… If I need to sneak away, they would start searching for me, and consequently search for you guys too.” I point out.

Things are going in the exact direction that I predicted. It seems I really took the role of the Jedi in this timeline.

“We never had a good relationship with the Gungans.” Padmé comments

“Is it bad?” I ask

“No… just… distant.” She says with a little hesitation.

“Ostracized, huh?” I say, but don’t delve into that. Jar Jar already made me racist, so I can’t blame them. Female Gungans are also not my type.

“Jar Jar, do you think we can form an alliance with the Gungans?” Padmé asks with some hope

“Eh… Erm… Mestalkie wit dem.” After some hesitation, he puffs his chest and hits with his fist.

“...” Aren’t you the exiled one? Anyway, everything will go well in the end.

…………………………………

I said in “the end”, so obviously, in the beginning, the negotiations started badly.

Thankfully, probably because of my influence, Padmé didn’t hide behind Nabé(her decoy) and was upfront with the Gungans after we arrived in Naboo.

I guess she is not using her body double that much because I kinda exposed her at Watto’s shop. I think that was the extent of my influence here. Not that much, and I still believe that Darth Maul didn’t show up because he is not retarded.

He is absolutely waiting to gank us somewhere on this planet.

“Now yousa ask per help?” The Gungan Leader bristles. He shakes his head and hips like he is motorboating a very nice pair of titties. Weird…

I am kinda zoning out because this conversation is boring, but to be fair, I am paying attention to my surroundings.

We are in the middle of a forest filled with Gungans. If things go badly, I will be the one who will take us out of here… by killing a lot of Gungans.

Oh, Padmé is kneeling now to ask for help… Very cool for you todo that, girl. Humbling yourself for your subjects and all that…

Couldn’t be me through. That is why I am invisible and in the back, so when her people followed her, I didn’t stand out like a sore thumb.

It is one thing to kneel in front of a queen to play the role of a knight or something like that. It is fun, cool, and even romantic… I will do a lot more in the future. There are a lot of queens and princesses who will have me kneeling in front of them just for the roleplay. Maybe even between their legs…

But me kneeling in the dirty ground of a forest in front of Jar Jar Binks’ race? Pfffft. Not happening.

The Gungan Leader widened his eyes, understanding that Padmé didn’t look down on them and suddenly got friendly.

Yeah, I can get behind this level of simplicity. It is just Jar Jar that is retarded.

“Wesa ganna fight wit are-sa palos!!” After a small conversation, the Gungna leader shouts around, and the rest of his people cheer. Padmé reveals a relaxed smile while the Gungan leader goes back, and they start discussing the next step.

…………………………………..

“The first step should be to recover the hangar so that we can use our battleships.” The Chief of Security says, while we are reunited in a small council room. “Then we will be able to give cover to the Gungan army on the ground and fight in orbit.”

“Don’t we lack people?” I ask while looking around. Padmé's retinue is not big.

“I am already in contact with our soldiers. They have been on standby since we left the planet.” The Chief of Security explains “When we move, we are gonna send a signal and they will follow.”

“Be careful for spies inside them…” I comment. I am kinda cynical.

“Those soldiers are the pride of Naboo.” The Chief of Security doesn’t appreciate my concerns

“And money can build a nice villa on any planet.” I shrug “I know that we can’t change the plan right now or even dream of identifying a spy, but let’s sit on the middle ground and consider that the plan will be leaked, and they will be waiting for us. Our element of surprise will not last for long.”

“And that is why the Gungans will help with the distraction.” Padmé intervenes diplomatically before the Chief can retort. “The two have valid points. I trust the Naboo soldiers, but we should be ready if anything unforeseen happens.”

The Chief nods, and I simply don’t touch the subject.

“The key will be timing; after that, everyone just needs to do their parts.” I add

Padmé turns to the gungans “We will be trusting the main battle to the brave Gungans.” She says, almost apologetically

“Do notsa worry. Gungans are stroggen.” The Boss Rugor Nass says proudly.

But is the other gunga, probably their general(or equivalent), that answers with something more palpable.

“Wesa’ll besa ready in time.” Roos Tarpals, the only other Gungan that I bothered learn the name, is an old man. He is slim, white, and has whiskers to differentiate himself from the rest.

I learned that there are apparently two different tribes in the Gungan Species. Like the boss, that is fat, not because he lives a life of opulence, but because of his… sub-species? Is that the correct term?

Jar Jar is an Otolla; they are the lanky ones, while the fat ones are Ankura.

They are an amphibious race, so it is like the frogs. Some are big and heavier, like the bullfrogs, while others are smaller and thinner.

Isn’t this funny? Gungans live in harmony even with this much difference between their tribes(or whatever), while humans hate each other based on their color. Haha.

We are not even of different colors, just different shades. We are so fucking retarded.

To be fair, apparently, racism is no longer around this galaxy. At least, between the humans. So we are not THAT retarded. We can learn.

Before I can focus on my future task of fighting Darth Maul, I have to say something.

“The Gungans shouldn’t go on an all-out battle. They should stall, try to lose as few people as possible…” I start “Our win condition is taking the viceroy hostage. The battle doesn’t need to be won, just last till we get the guy.”

Padmé nods “I also don’t want the Gungans to die needlessly.”

“Gungans are notsa ‘fraid of crunchedness.” Roos Tarpals says with pride

“I know, but the deaths should have meaning.” Padmé replies.

Ah, Crunchedness means death.

They go back and forth, but eventually Padmé convinced them to take a defensive approach. I suggested guerrilla tactics because like… Why the fuck do the Gungans fight on an open field against the droids?

You have the field advantage. The knowledge of the terrain.

Whatever, they just need to hold off till I defeat Maul.

Maybe he would not show up, and things would end peacefully.

Hehe, we can only hope.

………………………………….

After my small suggestions during the war council, I just followed Padmé around. Instead of putting my nose to other people's roles, I need to prepare myself for the Boss Fight.

The Talisman Belt is already around my waist, and I have organized the other items in my Inventory so I can pull them out easily. I decided against wearing the Armor of Eight Immortals for now, but the thing can be worn pretty easily with my telekinesis.

I don’t know if the armor can stop a lightsaber, and I can use the element of surprise by suddenly wearing it later. The boost in status can give me an edge and an opening to end the fight.

We separated from the Gungans, moving with a small group against the capital that is very empty.

“The people are in the houses.” I whisper to Padmé “I can tell.”

She looks at me and nods, her face showing relief that no one is in a concentration camp or anything.

We avoided some patrols, moved through some blocked alleys, and even went through a secret passage. Royals and their secret passages… I will do the same when I build my base one day.

Our first stop is obviously at the hangar. We get closer at every corner we turn, and at every turn we find more allies who join us.

I do my job by destroying any patrol we see quickly so that Padmé can spare her forces.

Now that I changed the plot, I could at least change for the better and have more people survive than in canon right?

Bam 

A wave of my hand and a group of enemy aliens was thrown at the wall with such strength that their grunts of pain came muffled because the air was knocked out of their lungs.

A door open with a tss and droids appear, but they don’t last long. Receiving an even more brutal treatment, the robots ended up in pieces.

“Let’s go.” I say to the shocked looks of the entourage.

Padmé also stares at me, but any conversation needs to be left for later.

We finally arrive at the hangar, huge doors opening surprisingly fast, and we are in a very large space, filled with starships. I want one of those, but they are for combat only. I need something like a Millennium Falcon.

Instead of an F1 car, I want a trailer…

Damn, it was this big in this movie?

“Lower the exit forcefield! Get the astromechs ready! Put down everyone in your way!!” The Chief of Security shouts while we advance by defeating everyone who was guarding this place.

We move to the opposite door as the pilots of our entourage leave our group to get on their jets and other battleships.

If I am not wrong, Anakin would have some important role in this, right? In any case, taking the viceroy is checkmate.

I have a big problem to worry about beyond the space battle.

We approach the huge door, and I have the same feeling of entering a Boss Room.

Yep, I am not a Force user, but my sixth sense is alerting me that I am about to be in danger.

The group rams, but the doors open before even the motion sensors detect us.

Everyone gets alert thinking that there is a battalion of enemies on the other side… but it's just one guy.

Darth Maul in all his black-clad glory.

Look at this guy. Aura farming, right? Cool… and it's kinda pissing me off.

Don’t slowly remove your hood to me, bitch.

“This guy is dangerous.” I step forward after noting some of the guards raising their guns at the Sith Lord. “Go ahead. This is a Sith Lord.”

“...” Padmé must have seen my serious face because she didn’t even question my ridiculous words.

A Sith Lord in this day and age?

The group immediately runs to the other exit while I stay behind.

Maul’s eyes follow Padmé so…

Pew

I fire my blaster at him only once.

Psssheeww Zzzoon

Quicker than the eye could see, he ignited his lightsaber, and the red blade protected his face from the blast, deflecting the shot to the ground.

Behind the blade, his tattooed face remains still, but his yellow eyes slowly turn to me.

“It is bad manners to take your eyes off your opponent.” I say while putting the blaster back in the holster. I know this thing is useless against him.

I am trying to be casual, but the speed of his to take his lightsaber and deflects the attack raised my alertness till the fucking stratosphere.

Just watching the movies, series, or whatever doesn’t do it justice, but… Blaster’s shots are fast. Yes, it leaves a trail of light, but it is impossible to react. Seriously, while the trail of light is registered on your pupils, the blast already hit the target.

So, everything we see in the movies is slowed so that our eyes can register it? 

Powerscalers would have a field day with this knowledge

“Am I in the Legends version or what? Lightspeed upscaling was not in the plan in this casual trip…” I chuckle humorlessly while shrugging off my trench coat from my shoulders.

See? I can also act cool.

“You? My opponent?” Maul sneers, his face morphing into one of contempt

“Yep, continue like this… You also underestimated Obi-Wan. Fulfill your destiny and lose to me, too.” I smirk back.

His face shows the obvious confusion for not understanding about what I am talking about, but that is okay. Let him be confused. His stance still shows that he is not taking it seriously, but that is okay, too.

I already decided that I will make a little change in the Canon… and kill him for good in this timeline. 

………………………………………….

Third Person P.O.V.

Hector just gives one second of courtesy to Darth Maul.

He strikes a fighting pose, fists ready, and then launches himself at the Sith Lord, who is still not taking him seriously.

After all, Hector has one advantage over the red Zabrak… It is his biggest advantage anywhere in the Omniverse… Knowledge.

As a Star Wars fan and even one who likes Maul, he is obviously familiar with the guy’s fighting style.

The Form VII, Juyo, is known for its ferocity. Maul utilizes aggressiveness, chaotic movements, and unpredictability to overwhelm their opponents. That is even more apparent when one thinks about his unusual lightsaber.

So Maul is an offensive fighter, and like how Dooku once did with Anakin, Hector plans to force him into defense.

Darth Maul's eyes widen a little after seeing the speed at which his opponent dashed at him. He hasn’t felt the Force on this human, and he is also not wearing the common Jedi garbs, so he didn’t think Hector was a worthy opponent.

A fist is flying at his face, but Maul just smiles in contempt, putting his blade in front to defend himself.

Only an idiot would punch a lightsaber blade…

Hector is no idiot, though.

His punch was a feint. He retracts it just before hitting the blace and he swings his other fist at Maul’s side.

Unfortunately, such a trick would not work on a Sith Lord on the level of Maul, who simply turns to the side and tries to cut Hector with his lightsaber.

Thankfully, hector never committed to this attack, predicting that it would not work. It was just to test the waters and get a grasp of Maul’s reaction speed.

‘Yep, he is fast…’ Hector thinks while stepping backto get out of range of the lightsaber.

That was a mistake thought…

Hector wrongfully thought that he would be able to step forward again and enter Maul’s range after dodging like this, but it is not that simple.

The enemy will not wait for him, and Maul will not play by his tune. Life is not a game.

Hector’s eyes widen. Maul is already on him, moving much faster than expected.

Zwwwoon

He dodges just by a hair's breadth, and then he needs to dodge again and again. Darth Maul presses his advantage, red blade moving with great speed to try to cut Hector.

Hector needs to dodge and step back, giving even more ground, literally staying on his back foot during this whole exchange. He thinks in way to use one of his powers to catch Maul by surprise, but the Sith Lord gives no openings while moving so unpredictably.

Things get even worse when Maul finally reveals that his lightsaber is a double-bladed type.

Psssheeew

He makes a cut from above and then attacks from below while igniting the second blade. 

The red blade cuts Hector’s body diagonally, from his waist to the opposite shoulder, creating a scorched line on his torso.

It is only because Hector has great reflexes and his previous knowledge about Maul’s lightsaber that he was not cut in half.

A moment of reprieve happens as Hector jumps back and Maul stays in place, a little surprised that the fight didn’t end already.

“That hurts…” Hector winces. Two fingers go through the burnt skin. “I can feel the heat in my bones.” His heart is beating fast; the almost-death experience was scarier. One moment… One moment, and everything would end.

All his effort… All his plans… Dreams… That would be the end of our journey.

Luckily, it was two shallow, and the fact that lightsabers cauterize wounds helped in this case. The same property that makes it cut through almost anything make so that he didn’t bleed.

Beyond thinking about the great loss it would be if things ended here, he couldn’t help but think about how pathetic it would be. It is too soon… He can’t die like this.

‘Okay… it is time to lock in.’ Hector takes a deep breath and goes incredibly serious.

Even Maul noticed that the air around him shifted.

Hector’s face becomes a mask as he reaches for his inventory, his hand and forearm sinking in ting behind him.

You see, Hector always had a little problem with the Hercules Method. Beyond his lack of talent, another factor holds him back.

The Hercules Method, the teachings of Cain are heavily based on slaughter. The Law of the Jungle. The Foodchain. The Right of the Strong. You kill your peers to prove your superiority over them. Your mind changes, and so does your body.

Mind over matter… As your mentality as God of Slaughter, hero, or even a murderer is fulfilled, your body becomes super-human, and you ascend beyond the chains of humanity.

What better way to reject your humanity than killing your fellow humans? You treat them like lessers because you are above them now, you rise above them by piling the bodies of your victims… They are cattle, prey, toys… And you become the Apex Predator.

Hector never delved too deep into that. Only in the beginning, when he was trying to grasp the Method, did he kill a lot of criminals in gangs to increase his body count and understanding.

After that… maybe he tried to follow the steps of Luther Strode, the one who broke those chains. He obviously would never want to lose himself so early. He was also satisfied with the level-up.

Even without a full completion of the Hercules Method, he was already very strong. Powerful enough to walk relaxedly through many of the universes he planned to visit.

The Star Wars universe just proved that he bit more than he could chew. What was show in the TV was misleading, and even if Maul is not moving at lightspeed(because it is impossible, Force users have precognition to predict the blast and move even before the trigger is pulled), the Sith Zarbrak is pretty much moving above the speed of sound. His arms at least.

Hector is not gonna win if he holds back.

‘I’m gonna kill him.’ The thought is like a switch being flipped in his mind.

His face became a stone-cold mask. His eyes change, his blue eyes become red, and his sclera becomes pitch black. 

From his perspective, the world around him also changes… He can see the wind moving, the heat and cold, even Maul changed… He is seeing more than the Zarbrak clad in black; he can see the muscles, the veins, the organs… 

Maul is a piece of meat. Like humans… He has blood… He can bleed… and if he can bleed…

“...you can die.” He says loudly just to reinforce his mentality.

Boom

The dash forward is so strong and violent that it left a clear print of his foot on the ground. In one instant, he is already on Maul, looking at him with cold eyes and bringing down his arm into a huge swing.

Maul keeps his calm, he can still see hector movements even though he received a great boost. The red lightsaber was raised to deflect the attack while Maul was already seeing his future movements…

He is gonna attack hector after parrying, while the human is out of balance, this time his blade will go through his heart and end this fight.

“??!!!!” But to the surprise of the Sith, the attack is so heavy that his knees were forced to bend, and he needed to put his all into the defense.

Not only that, the weapon that Hector pulled really clashed with a lightsaber, and he is holding it on.

“Never thought that in my life I would be happy that Disney brought Lucasfilm.” Hector jokes, his grip on the Three Wishes Keyblade tightening while he keeps Maul pinned in place. “Guess Sora will have his moment here, too.”

Despite the joke, Hector’s face is incredibly menacing, twisted into an evil mask. Even his half-smirk is warped, eyes corrupted and emanating bloodlust.

Not only bloodlust, but his eyes start shining, and he releases a heatblast at Maul while their blades are locked in place.

The Zarbrak's eyes widen, and a boost of the Force is emitted from him so that he is able to create a half step of distance from hector, and put his blade to stop the two beams coming from his enemy’s eyes.

But one of them still hits his cheek, carving a burn wound on the Sith’s face.

“Now we are even… let’s start Round 2.” hector says with a bloodthirsty smile.

Maul touches his cheek before looking at Hector and showing a similar grin, his sharp and pointed teeth in full display.

No words are said anymore. Both fighters instinctively understand that this only ends when one of them dies. This is the last chance to turn back and not bet their life on this battle…

But the two step forward at the same time.

……………………………………..