There was always something so cathartic about duelling for Melinoe. Especially when her master wasn't there to watch her every move. The feeling of being free to go all out on an opponent. There was no chance of Heiss' mind torture stopping; Melinoe was gaining victory.

But despite Heiss' lack of presence, there was still Maul. It was somewhat hard to spot if you watched the duel between the two Siths and the two Jedi, but Kenobi and Jinn were much more in sync than their Dark Side counterparts.

The Jedi jousted as a duo. Working together against their enemy. While Maul and Melinoe fought as if the other wasn't even there.

At first, Melinoe was amused by the looks of surprise and betrayal on Kenobi and Jinn's faces. Especially the older Jedi. He truly had no idea of her true intentions. But unfortunately, this feeling was short-lived as the four of them continued their fight further into Theed Generator Complex. Making their way across several catwalks. While clashing blades and dodging blows.

The cavernous room was filled with the noise of heavy machinery. The sounds of their boots thudding against the metal frame of the catwalk and the clash of their lightsabers.

Lightsabers flashed as Kenobi and Melinoe locked blades.

Melinoe could sense anxious feelings coming from Kenobi. Confused and somewhat angry thoughts that he was trying to push down.

The fight continued with Kenobi and Jinn covering each other and giving the other openings to attack. The Jedi eventually had the two Sith pinned between them. Forcing Maul and Melinoe further down the catwalk.

While Melinoe's focus was fighting back against Kenobi, Maul caught Obi-Wan and Melinoe off guard and sent Melinoe crashing into Kenobi with a powerful force push. Sending the both of them over the railing. Falling to the levels below.

Much to Melinoe's surprise, she felt her arm being grabbed. He looked up to see Kenobi with one arm tightly holding Melinoe's wrist and the other holding onto a lower catwalk.

The two of them stared at each other. Both were surprised at Kenobi's actions for a second that seemed to stretch on forever.

Kenobi swung Melinoe back and forth in order to toss her back up on the catwalk. Kenobi spared Melinoe a quick glance before looking around for Qui-Gon, who was in pursuit of Darth Maul.

Melinoe stared ahead as Kenobi ran after his master.

"What the hell just happened?" Melinoe asked herself.

"A Jedi just saved your life," A voice whispered in the back of her head.

Melinoe felt something burn up inside her. Humiliated by the thought of having to be saved by that self-righteous, smug bastard. She leapt from the floor and chased after the padawan.

Melinoe followed after the other force sensitives toward a small door at the far end of the power station.

One after the other, the four of them made their way into a small corridor lined with several arches. The arches lit up before Jinn could reach Maul at the end of the hall. Blocking the passage into five points. With Jinn trapped at the end of the hall, Kenobi trapped in the middle, and Melinoe caught right before the entrance.

Jinn looked back and gave Kenobi a meaningful look. Silently saying to trust him. He then kneeled on the floor. Meditating as he waited for the shields to go down. The man had faith in his abilities and that the Force would guide him to victory.

But Maul had something Jinn didn't. Maul was younger and more vigorous. As well as a bigger drive to succeed. Kenobi made up for everything Jinn lacked when they fought together, but without his second, Jinn was outmatched.

While Kenobi paced around until the red luminance shields dropped, Melinoe stopped and waited. Trying to decide what strategy to go with. Her first instinct was to rush Kenobi and take him out, but he knew that she was right behind him.

Eventually, she decided to take Jinn by surprise. With all his focus on Maul and Kenobi's focus on Jinn, the older man would be wide open for attack.

At that instant, the shields were down. Jinn and Maul jumped into action.

Kenobi and Melinoe both sprinted forward. Trying to make their way out of the passageway. But, before they could make it out, the force fields reappeared. Trapping Kenobi just before the corridor's end. Kenobi stood there hopelessly. Watching his master fight one on one with the Sith.

Jinn and Darth Maul battled around the narrow ledge that encircled the melting pit in the middle of the room.

Melinoe watched curiously as the Jedi Master seemed to find a boost of strength. Managing to keep Maul on the defensive and even causing him to shake with uncertainty for a moment.

Maul didn't let this show and quickly back-flipped across the melting pit. Giving himself some much-needed distance between himself and Jinn. Maul took a battle stance as Jinn rushed over to him. The Sith started overpowering Jinn.

Jinn moved to strike Maul, only to get knocked in the head by Maul's lightsaber. Then, before Jinn could recover, Maul stabbed Jinn right in his midsection. Jinn crumbled to the floor with a shocked look on his face. His lightsaber clattered against the metal floor.

The room was filled with the sound of Kenobi screaming in horror. The lone Jedi turned his head to Maul. Who smiled smugly at Kenobi.

Melinoe couldn't help but look on with keen interest. Not expecting this turn of events. She watched as Maul stalked around Kenobi. Like an animal waiting to sink its teeth into its prey.

Kenobi rushed towards Maul. Pushing Maul back a bit. Caught off guard by the Jedi's speed. Their lightsabers scraped together, and the room was filled with their rageful emotions. Kenobi sliced Maul's two-bladed sabre in half and landed a clean kick to his torso. Causing Maul to fall to the ground for a moment.

For the first time in her life, Melinoe was the observer. The one who would decide where this battle would go.

The Sith Lord began to wear the young Jedi down. Pressing him back towards the pit in the room. Kenobi let out a frustrated grunt. Entering a blade lock with Maul. Only for Maul to break it and force push Kenobi into the seamlessly bottomless pit.

Melinoe slowly moved closer and was surprised to see that Kenobi was still alive. Hanging on to a metal rung for dear life.

Maul smirked again as he kicked Kenobi's dropped lightsaber into the pit. The dathomirian started hitting the hole's edges with the still working half of his lightsaber. Causing sparks to fall towards Kenobi.

Melinoe started stalking towards Maul when a small idea popped into her head. Noticing that Melinoe was making a move against Maul, Kenobi calmed his mind.

As the Jedi did this, Maul turned to confront Melinoe's incoming attack. Only for her to trick him with a faint attack. Sidestepping and leaving Maul wide open.

Kenobi vaulted out of the pit and willed his master's lightsaber over to him. A twisted grin appeared on Melinoe's face as she watched the Jedi slice Maul in half. For a brief moment, the two Sith locked eyes. One looked on in complete shock and the other in sick satisfaction.

Maul staggered back and fell down the reactor shaft. His legs and torso bounced against the walls as they fell further.

Kenobi ran to his master. Taking him in his arms and begging him to hold on.

Melinoe made her way over to the two. Ready to stab Kenobi in the back and finish the mission.

But her arm wouldn't stop shaking, and a voice in the back of her head told her to run.

This was a trick. Some kind of sick Jedi mind game Kenobi was pulling on her. Melinoe tried lifting her lightsaber again, only for the voice that sounded just like Eglantine to get louder.

Melinoe needed to get out of there. She reasoned to herself. Kenobi was distanced by his master. The Queen and the rest of her party were busy taking back Naboo... the boy was who knew where. This was the perfect time to slip away undetected.

Melinoe made her way back through the Generator Complex. Returning to the hanger.

To Melinoe's dismay, the pilots had returned from their mission. Bringing the boy with them. Saying something about how they couldn't have done it without him.

Melinoe sneered. She needed to get off this planet before Kenobi could tell everyone what had happened. She usually could just force trick the pilots into giving her a ship and forgetting she was never there, but with Skywalker there, she couldn't risk it.

The boy may be able to see through her tricks, especially in her current emotional state. Melinoe found a hiding spot behind some repair units. Deciding her best option was to wait it out.

Melinoe was stuck there until nightfall after everyone left to celebrate their victory against the trade federation and the fallen droids. Once she could confirm that she was alone, Melinoe made her way over to one of the starfighters. Disabling any form of tracking people could use against her.

As Melinoe flew back to Byss, her mind filled with anxious thoughts. Why did she let Kenobi live!? How could she have been so stupid!? She could have returned to Byss with no Maul and two dead Jedi. It would have been perfect.

But she didn't even think about any of this at that moment. Instead, she kept telling herself that Kenobi had messed with her head somehow. Some kind of Light Side technique she wasn't aware of.

Melinoe was in deep denial. There was no such technique she was making up in her head. Just her own guilt and sentiment unknowingly at work.

The long journey back to Byss gave Melinoe enough time to compose herself. Heiss was most likely going to punish Melinoe for not bringing Maul back with her. Maybe even kill her. The death of Sidious's precious apprentice was never going to end well for her. He was doomed to die sooner or later. Whether it was from his own ego or his Master getting tired of him.

Heiss was waiting for Melinoe when the younger woman landed back on Byss. Staring her down with a disappointed look. Neither of them said anything as they made their way to Heiss' chambers.

"What do you have to report?" Heiss said firmly.

Melinoe started with the truth. Explaining how Maul was able to kill the older Jedi but was outmatched by his apprentice. But then she started lying through her teeth about how she was trapped behind the ray shields and only able to watch as Maul was killed.

"You realise you will have to be punished for failing your mission?" Heiss smirked.

Melinoe nodded her head. During her time undercover, Melinoe made sure to know of any and all security around Theed. And thankfully, there were none in the Generator Complex where Maul died. There was no way of them finding out the truth.

"A few weeks of punishment will do you good, my apprentice," Heiss told Melinoe. "It will help strengthen your body."

Melinoe held herself back as Heiss commanded her to leave her chambers. Quickly going to find Eglantine. Finding her friend meditating in their shared quarters.

"Eggie I-" Melinoed moved forward but was stopped by Eglantine wrapping her arms around Melinoe suddenly. Squeezing her tightly like a lifeline.

"You're here!" Eglantine sighed in relief. "You're alive."

"Of course I am?" Melinoe said in confusion.

"I thought... I felt you slipping away at some point." Eglantine sniffled. "I thought you were dying."

Melinoe pulled back and looked Eglantine in the eyes. "I would never leave you like that."

"I'm just glad you're back," Eglantine told her.

"Heiss didn't-"

"Not anything out the usual... but,"

"But what?"

"Heiss will be leaving Byss for a while. A lot longer than she usually does," Eglantine explained.

"Why?"

"I don't know. I couldn't get much more information without getting caught."

"I don't like this," Melinoe whispered to her friend.

"You can feel it, can't you?" Eglantine asked. "There's some kind of shift coming. A change that could affect the whole galaxy."

Melinoe nodded her head. It was something to do with that Skywalker boy. There was definitely some kind of change coming, but the question was would Melinoe and Eglantine come out of it for better or worse?

Eglantine noticed Melinoe fidgeting anxiously and smiled. "Hey, I've got a present for you."

"A what?" Melinoe smiled in surprise.

Eglantine reached into her pocket and pulled out a familiar black pendant.

"I can't take that, Eggie," Melinoe told her.

"I want you to always have a part of me with you," Eglantine argued.

Melinoe had seen this particular pendant before. It was a small disk that could fit into the palm of one's hand, with a compass-like symbol craved out of it. The piece of orichalcum was the only thing of value Eglantine had when she first arrived on Byss. Something that she held onto tightly over the years.

Eglantine pressed into Melinoe's hand. "Please, Mel, for me?"

Melinoe reluctantly accepted the gift.

"I can't wait to get home," Eglantine smiled as she laid down for the night. "It's going to be amazing to see everything again. The sea, the trees. Feeling the sand under my feet. And having you there with me."

"No waking up to a green sky," Melinoe grinned.

The two of them fell asleep thinking of their future. A future where they could carve out their own lives. Create their own destinies. A future without Heiss or Sidious.

A future of their own.

A future that would never come.

And so we come to the end of The Phantom Menace. I'm glad I was able to finish this part of the story by my birthday (which is April 3rd btw).

For what comes next in Melinoe's story: There will be an interlude fic about what Melinoe gets up to between TPM and AOTC.