Foreword: This is a long-gestating project of mine, starting back over a year ago, now only just being put into words. It started life as a "How to improve the Star Wars prequels" list, and has evolved from there. So, let me just clarify: Nothing that happened in episodes 1-3 is cannon for the purposes of this fanfic. The only material that I'm considering as canon are Episodes 4-6, giving me as much leeway as possible.

I will, however, be including various elements from the prequels and expanded universe. Things such as Characters and planets may pop up here and there. If you have any special requests/suggestions, don't hesitate to ask. And now:

STAR WARS:

EPISODE 1:

THE MALEVOLENT DARKNESS

A long, long time ago

In a galaxy far, far away

It is a time of peace and prosperity for the Galactic Republic.

The dreaded Lords of the Sith, sworn enemies of the Jedi Knights have not been seen in the Galaxy for decades.

But on the core world of Alderaan, trouble brews. Something sinister lurks in the darkness,

and the Jedi have sent their finest members to investigate.

Little do these brave knights know that their actions will affect the galaxy as a whole.

It is the calm before the storm. And the storm is coming.

The Modified Republic T-17 corvette sliced through the vacuum of space as quietly as the space around it. It's engines glowed a solid blue colour as they powered the ship forward. Although, technically, there was no such thing as 'forward' whilst in space. Only momentum. But Anakin Skywalker had no time to ponder the intricacies of inter-spacial travel. He had more important things to be concerned with.

Like not being zapped by a training droid.

"Again!" his Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, barked from where he stood, against the wall of the corvette's hull. Just over three heads taller than the twelve-year old Skywalker, The Twenty-Five year old Jedi Knight stood with an impassible expression on his face. A short beard adorned his face, but did not hide the small scowl-like feature he bore. A feature which tortured Anakin's soul deeply as he raised the glowing blue lightsaber into a Form-III defensive stance and waited patiently.

His eyes flickered up to the small, floating remote droid that travelled around him in perfect circles. The point of this exercise was very simple. Anakin was to deflect any of the bolts that the droid launched his way. There was no dodging, or slicing the droid in two. So he had to concentrate hard on the small, metal sphere. He delved deep within himself, reaching out to the force, which flowed within him. He sensed his connection with the droid. With his Master. With the ship. With everything round him.

A slow breath escaped his lips as he sensed the movement of the droid, and closed his eyes. He knew that the droid was moving to the left, but sensed that it would soon veer to the right, and he adjusted his blade appropriately, at the last second.

Voom! Zing! Ba-zing! Ba-voom!

Anakin opened his eyes as a sense of elation filled him. He had successfully deflected the bolt, just as his master had instructed. He spun around, hoping to see a wry smirk on Kenobi's face, but his heart sank. There was a look on his Master's face that bordered between shock and anger. Anakin turned on his heel, wondering if he had perhaps hit some vital instrument on the ship.

His heart sank even deeper when he realized this was not the case.

He hadn't hit the ship.

He had nearly struck the venerable Jedi Masters Qui-Gon Jinn and Sifo-Dyas. The only thing which had saved them from a painful stinging sensation to the eyes was Jinn's glowing green lightsaber, and the Master's quick instincts.

"Padawan," Kenobi barked harshly, "return to your quarters. When I return, I want to see you in a full Soresu Guard stance five," he said snappishly, as Anakin was waved away. The young Jedi Learner quickly turned to the two Masters and bowed low, out of both respect and apology. Jinn, however, smiled as he sheathed his blade.

"Your reflexes are impeccable, young one," Jinn smiled as he clasped a hand onto Anakin's shoulder. Jinn was a male Human of about Fifty years old. His hair was long and beginning to grey. He wore a taught and crisp black form-fitting environmental uniform. A grey belt hung at his side, holding a few instruments that Jedi frequently used on missions, such as rations and a comlink, as well as his lightsaber hilt ring. "But hold your hilt higher, it'll help protect your heart and your head better," the Jedi Master continued as he scuffed Anakin's short-cropped sandy-brown hair. "A lesson that even the greatest masters have yet to learn."

"You never fail to bring that up, do you, Qui-Gon?" Sifo-Dyas asked as he waved a cybernetic hand through the air casually. Many rumors were whispered around between Padawans about Sifo-Dyas's missing limb. Some said that he had it bitten off by a Rancor. Others said he had been captured by Pirates and attempted to escape. And even more said that he had cut it off himself, in order to save himself from drowning in a crashed Starfighter during the last war in the Republic. Anakin didn't believe any of those rumors. They didn't quite seem to fit the legend that Sifo-Dyas was. Unlike most Jedi, Sifo-Dyas didn't usually wear ceremonial Jedi robes, save for meetings with high dignitaries. Most of the time, he wore a modified set of Republic trooper armour, with several pieces coming from outlying systems. The armour, while usually white and pristine on a trooper, was mottled and greyed from constant weathering and abuse. Angry scratches cut deep into the left side of the breastplate, and they seemed to travel up through his neck and face. That was where the Rancor bite rumor had started. "Better pass up on that order, Master Kenobi. We're approaching the Alderaan System. We should be arriving in five minutes."

xxx

"You should be kinder to your apprentice," Qui-Gon remarked as the two of them traversed the narrow hallway of the republic transport. Obi-Wan nodded alongside the venerable master as they made their way towards the cockpit, in order to prepare for the final landing procedures. "He's a remarkable Padawan. Skilled. Intuitive. Intelligent."

"I know, Master," Obi-Wan replied softly, as he unfolded his arms, which were concealed deep within his Jedi robes. "I can see it. I can foresee that Anakin will become a great Jedi. If I can guide him along the path properly," he said, as he stroked his beard slowly, pondering his position. As an Apprentice, he had never talked back to his Master, never disobeyed an order. But Anakin, on the other hand, was entirely different. He was easily frustrated. He shut down at times. He refused to see things another way. And Obi-Wan was at his wit's end as to how to get through to the boy. "Did Master Yoda give us any further orders?" he asked, knowing they had very little information on exactly what they were supposed to do on Alderaan.

"No," Qui-Gon replied, obviously as unnerved by the lack of details as the younger Jedi was. "No. I've contacted the council several times since we left, but there has been no change in our mandate. We are to protect the Royal Family. That is all," he continued, as a grave sense of foreboding filled the both of them. They both knew that when the Jedi council didn't give much information, that was a sign of trouble. And when Obi-Wan looked at his former master, he saw a grave look on his face. The same look that he had whenever asked about the Siege of Dathomir, the last great Jedi-Sith conflict. "I asked Master Vos to contact his friends in the Underworld, to see if there's been a hit placed on the family," Jinn sighed as he rubbed his temples, and they entered the cockpit of the ship. Currently, the cruiser was being driven by an R4 astromech droid. But the droid didn't have the ability to land such a beast on its own, or the clearance to land in the Capital city's main hangar.

"Has he replied, at least?" Obi-Wan asked, as he assumed the co-pilot's chair. While he was a competent pilot on his own, and was more than capable of landing a ship this size, Qui-Gon was much better than he would ever be. "It would explain why the Senate isn't in an uproar. King Organa is one of Chancellor Valorum's strongest supporters, after all. An attack on him could be-."

"Valorum is well-loved by all the senators," Jinn replied swiftly as he took the pilot's seat. "He has always been a fair leader. He follows the laws to the letter. I doubt anyone would attempt to attack him through Organa. There's too much at stake."

"Could it be money, perhaps?" Obi-Wan shrugged hopefully as he keyed in several commands, and assumed his role as the co-pilot. "Alderaan does sit on a large deposit of valuable minerals, which are used for building ships and space stations." Outside the viewport, the stars began to come into view, as did the shining blue orb that was their destination. A screen to Obi-Wan's left blinked, catching his attention for the moment. He tore his eyes away from the vastness of space for the briefest of moments, and that was all it took.

Their sheep veered dangerously to the right as Qui-Gon jerked the controls hard. Both Jedi Knights let out an audible gasp as Obi-Wan brought his eyes back up from the screen. Were the vast emptiness of space had been before, there was now a massive cylindrical warship. A tall tower shot up from the ship's rear, serving as a command deck, he assumed. Along the prow, high-calibre laser turrets bristled like spines on a tusk cat. Turrets which could rip their unarmed ship to shreds in a few shots, Obi-Wan guessed. "Commerce Guild!" the older Jedi swore as he banked the ship to the left, avoiding a second ship, and allowing them both to see just how many ships had arrived in-system.

Obi-Wan was able to count at least forty ships total. Most of them being similar to the one they had nearly crashed into. But others, about one-third total, were made up of a sphere inside of a half-circle. Those he recognized as belonging to the Trade Federation, and Obi-Wan began to put two and two together. The Commerce Guild was rumored to control a vast amount of wealth. About forty percent of the Republic, in fact. Meanwhile the Trade Federation controlled a vast amount of resources and factories. AN alliance between the two would be a powerful one, to say the least.

"Qui-Gon!" Sifo-Dyas exclaimed as he and Anakin entered the cockpit, both looking extremely frazzled. "What the….oh Karabast!"

xxx

Aboard the warship which the Republic cruiser had nearly crashed into, two figures stood in silence, waiting on the third, which appeared as a blue hologram.

The first figure was a male Zabarak. He was tall, even for his species, standing at just over eight feet tall. Thick, sturdy horns formed a crown on his head, making him look like an ancient weapon. Powerful muscles wrapped around his body, coiled like springs on a landmine. His red-and-black skin made him appear devilish in nature, as did the glowing yellow eyes that burned like hot coals in the pale night. It was only appropriate that his name was Darth Maul.

The second was considerably younger. She was a Twi'lek, and at a decade and a half old, she already cut an imposing figure. While she was not as broad-shouldered or well-muscled as her companion, there was something unsettling about her quiet demeanour. Like Maul, she had bloody red skin, with self-applied black tattoos that signalled her allegiance. Her head-tails, which were not yet fully grown, hung down her back like hair, brushing up against the modest black suit that covered everything up to her neck. She was Darth Bellus, Maul's apprentice.

"Lord Sidious," the two Sith Warriors said in unison as they bowed their heads low, both out of respect and out of fear for the dreaded Dark Lord. "We have arrived on Alderaan. Our forces are preparing to land as we speak."

"Have you disabled all communications?" the robed hologram spat snappishly, as he leaned forward.

"Yes, Lord Sidious," Maul replied curtly, as he bowed even lower. "My network of spies disabled the communication towers in Aldera early this morning. And we have now jammed all transmissions to and from the planet," he said, as a wrist-mounted comlink on Bellus's side chirped softly. She quietly slipped away from her master in order to check it. The bridge crew had been given explicit orders to not disturb them unless something absolutely important occurred. And they knew better than to incur her wrath, or her master's. "Our fleet will have the planet blockaded within minutes," Maul continued, oblivious to his apprentice. "No ship will be able to escape our combined firepower," he added in, with a sense of personal glee. Maul lived for the thrill of battle, and of destroying his enemies mercilessly.

"Crush the capitol first," Sidious commanded from across the Galaxy. "Wipe out their military leaders. But leave the Royal family alive," he growled, adding enunciation to the last portion of his command. "Their….cooperation is instrumental to my design. Bring them aboard, and return to my shuttle immediately," Sidious finished with a small sneer.

"Yes, my Lord," Maul replied with a deep tone, "as you-."

"My lords," Bellus said clearly. "A Republic ship has entered our airspace. No identifiable markings," she nodded, "shall I order our ships to open fire?"

"Yes," Maul commanded intently.

"No," Sidious growled forcefully. "An unmarked Republic ship can only mean Jedi. Seize them. Have the droids execute them." His image winked off, and Bellus turned away in order to relay the orders they had been given. However, the unmistakable Bwa-voom sound behind her interrupted the process. She turned, with her hand flying to her hilt, barely igniting her crimson lightsaber in time to parry her master's deft strike. Even though she re-directed his blow, it still felt like a hammer-strike against her guard. If she had been unfamiliar with his strength, the blow would have been more than enough to disarm her. As it was, she only staggered back several steps, in a vain attempt to earn a small reprieve and mount a better defense.

She failed, as a wave of crimson smashed against her sword. Her neck was only saved by a small twist of her arms, which sent Maul's blade cascading slightly left. Bellus brought her blade back up and around, countering Maul's savagery with a deft cut, which the juggernaut of a Sith Warrior avoided easily, and grabbed her by the wrists. With a single tug, he disarmed her, and threw Bellus across the floor of the ship like a rag-doll.

"Perhaps it is time for another lesson, Apprentice," he hissed, with malice and terror in his voice. As he walked towards her, he twirled his blood-red blade around in circles. "Recite our creed," he growled, as Bellus felt the heat of his blade against her neck. "Now!"

"Peace is a lie," Bellus replied, with gritted teeth, as she tried to worm her way out of her master's grip. "There is….only passion. Through passion I gain strength. Through strength I gain victory. Through victory my chains are broken. The force shall set us free," she spat, finally feeling the weight of her master's boot lifting from her back. She stood, calling her fallen lightsaber to her hands with the force. No sooner had she wrapped her fingers around it than Maul was swinging for her head once more. She ducked, and activated her blade again, narrowly missing his midsection and twirling around in a perfect circle. Her balance was impeccable as she parried another blow from Maul's blade.

"You have learned much, young one," her master said, taunting her with a twisted praise. "But never forget who the master is. I am the master. You are the apprentice. My word is law! Order our troops to pull that ship in," he hissed as he sheathed his blade, smiling as he did so. "So that we may give the Jedi the pleasure of meeting the force, firsthand."

"Yes Master," Bellus replied, as she bowed her head low, allowing her head-tails to flop forward awkwardly.

xxx

"It's no use!" Qui-Gon growled as he pushed hard against the controls with all his might. "We're caught in the tractor beam! I'll burn the engines out before we break free," he said, resigning himself to their fate. "I'm open to suggestions here!" All four Jedi exchanged looks around the cabin, hoping the other had an answer. However, only one spoke up.

"We let them take us," Anakin said softly, so softly that only his master heard him at first. "We let them take the ship. Think they won," he said, clarifying himself as he grew bolder with his words. "It's a large enough of a ship that it'll take them some time to search it. We can cut through the floor," he said, as he pointed downwards. All three masters followed his finger ass Anakin continued, "and make a break for one of their ships in the hangar before they have time to scramble security."

"Security will already be on their way," Sifo-Dyas replied as he clasped his metal arm against Anakin's shoulder. "But the boy does have a point. If we can make it to a ship, we can break free. The tractor beam won't be active again for a few minutes. So we'll need something fast."

"And well-armoured," Obi-Wan noted, "given the look of those turrets. We've got thirty seconds," he said, as they all eyed the approaching hangar, which was already filling up with small, skeletal droids. Most likely for security, ordered to bring them in, or shoot them on the spot. Neither outcome suited the Jedi's mission, however. They all knew there was no time for a prolonged engagement. An engagement which Obi-Wan knew would put his apprentice in unnecessary danger, given his relative inexperience in the field.

"There!" Qui-Gon said as he pointed into the hangar, "the Gunship! It's our only hope!"

"Aye!" Sifo-Dyas agreed, as he whipped out his long-handled lightsaber, and ignited its blazing orange light. "Move!" he shouted, as he began to cut a circle into the floor of the cockpit. "Make a beeline for that shuttle! Jinn, man the controls!" he roared as the floor gave out beneath them. Obi-Wan dropped first, his blue blade singing to life just in time to deflect a barrage of laser-fire. A bolt snapped past his head as his former master dropped down beside him, and joined in his efforts to defend their position, long enough for Anakin and Sifo-Dyas to drop down and join them.

"Now!" Qui-Gon roared, and they sprinted off towards the waiting ship. A second later, the ship they had arrived on exploded in a ball of fire. Only Anakin stumbled from the ensuing shockwave, bt he as quick to recover. The droids, which Obi-Wan recognized as being B-1 Battle-droids, turned in unison, firing their guns as they did so, attempting to shoot the Jedi down before they got within Lightsaber range.

They didn't.

Obi-Wan moved with the grace of flowing water. He moved from droid to droid, slicing each one in two with perfect precision. His technique was perfect. He stretched a hand out and a squad of droids flew backwards, crashing into one another. He was emboldened by the presence of the great Masters at his side. A quick twirl and he planted his blade in the centre of a droid's processor. With a reversal of his wrist, he sliced the heads off of two more.

"Come on!" Dyas roared as he tore open the hatch that led to the gunship. "More clankers incoming! Move, Kenobi! Skywalker!"

xxx

"Imbeciles!" Maul roared as he used the force to throw his commanding officer against the wall. They had not performed a rudimentary scan of the interior of the Republic ship. Such a scan would have revealed that there were four Jedi aboard, not one or two like they had already assumed and prepared for. Now, the Jedi were quickly making their way towards a gunship stored in the Hanger. Rocket launchers were not going to reach them in time. And the few remaining droids didn't have the firepower or the intelligence to bring the ship down on their own. That only left one conceivable option. "Bellus, where are you!" he shouted as he sprinted into the corridor, towards the aforementioned hanger.

"Sixty seconds away from the ship!" she replied over the comlink. "I can stop it, Master! Long enough for you to destroy it!" she panted, as Maul turned down yet another corridor, knowing that he was at least ninety seconds away from the action, and that was if he pressed himself. He cursed himself for not having brought a contingent of warriors from his native tribe on Dathomir. Then he remembered that almost all members of his tribe were dead. Murdered by members of the very same sect as those he was trying to catch.

"Be sure that you do!" Maul growled as he switched channels, broadcasting a message ship-wide, "launch the fighters from A and D deck! I don't want any chances taken!"

"Yes sir!" a cold, mechanical voice replied, completely devoid of any emotion.

"Master, I suggest we warm up the guns!" Bellus's voice said over the comm. "Our fighters may not be enough, if the Jedi are skilled enough!"

"Do it!" Maul commanded, as he finally reached the hangar. With a single glance, he took in everything. He saw the mess of droid parts that was the ship's security force. He saw the Republic cruiser. He saw his Apprentice with her hands outstretched, obviously using the force to hold the stolen Gunship back, keeping it from escaping. The strain on her body was very apparent, as was the sheer amount of power she was displaying. But he knew it would not be enough.

The gunship was edging forward, ever so slowly, even as the ramp was still raising itself. Again, held back by the force.

Maul did the only thing he could think of, and leaped high into the air, drawing his crimson blade with a fell swoop. He landed on the ramp of the Gunship, and swung for the nearest head. His intended target was a human male with brown hair. But his blade was intercepted by a blazing orange one. An older male, with a cybernetic arm pushed him back a step. Maul swung again, aiming to cut for the man's midsection, but he was denied that opportunity by the man's swift parry and a quick stab. Maul stepped back out of the way, allowing the Jedi to swing his blade better, coming in with a swift, powerful strike over his head.

Instead of doing the sensible thing and sidestepping the strike, Maul stepped forward and locked blades with the Jedi. They were so close their hilts were almost touching.

"Sith!" the Jedi sneered as he began to push Maul back with a surprising amount of strength.

"Jedi!" Maul growled back, only now realizing how vulnerable he was at the moment. He had been too arrogant and assumed he would be able to overpower his enemies quickly. But now, he knew he had met an equal. And while he relished the thought of combat. He yearned for fighting opponents who could match his skill. But he was outnumbered, and surrounded. He was lucky that the brown-haired Jedi had not drawn his blade yet. Perhaps he was afraid of hitting the older Jedi, or the younger one. Either way, he was still in danger.

"Anakin!" the brown-haired Jedi yelled, "Now!" the younger two Jedi waved their hands, and Maul was thrown backwards with an incredible amount of force. He flew out of the ship, and crashed onto the floor of the flagship.

xxx

"Anakin, now!" his master shouted, snapping the young apprentice out of his stupor and back into the real world. He saw Master Sifo-Dyas engaging the Sith Warrior at close range. His first thought was to charge in with his lightsaber. But he then realized that he would be cut down in seconds. So instead, he followed his Master's order, and reached out with the Force. He reached as deep as he could as his hand waved through the air, pushing the Sith away from the ship.

He reached deeper than he intended to. He was immersed in the force, like he always wanted to be. Like Master Yoda was always instructing them too.

Two warriors stood on a narrow bridge. One was tall, imposing and covered in thick black armour from head to foot. In his hand he held a crimson lightsaber. Set against him was a younger man. His clothes were torn and tattered, and he held a blue lightsaber. The bridge they were on spanned over a seemingly bottomless pit. They both swung their weapons at one another. But it was clear that the Sith was the better duelist. His blows struck the Jedi's defenses with the strength of a Rancor.

Slowly but surely, the Jedi was being driven back. Though not for lack of trying. What he clearly lacked in skill he made up for in inventiveness and cunning. He even managed to get in a good shot on the Sith's armoured shoulder. But it was all in vain. He was driven back, onto a small tower that jutted out from the end of the bridge. And with a quick riposte, the Sith disarmed the young Jedi, at the wrist.

"There is no escape," The Sith Lord stated plainly, in a cold, dark tone. "Don't make me destroy you."

"Someone on those guns!" Master Qui-Gon snapped from the pilot's chair. "Dyas! Kenobi! Now! Skywalker, with me!" Anakin did as he was told, and slid into the copilot's seat, understanding that he was just sitting in for Sifo-Dyas, who was a better gunner than he was. Though Anakin was by no means a bad pilot. He was certain that he would be able to fly the gunship on his own, just not through the hornet's nest of Starfighters in their path. "Hang on!" the older Jedi shouted, as they were soon surrounded on all sides by flat starships and laser fire.

"Think she'll hold?" Sifo-Dyas's voice asked from one of the turrets.

"She'll have too!" Obi-Wan replied from the other turret, "Master, make the jump to Hyperspace now!"

"There's no Hyperdrive," Qui-Gon replied sternly, "we'll have to go planetside and find a ship."

"Are. You. Insane?" Sifo-Dyas asked, as Qui-Gon performed a barrel-roll, avoiding a trio of Starfighters, who crashed into the four that had been tailing them. 'The mission is-."

"Still our priority!" Jinn snapped back, as he ducked the gunship underneath a larger cruiser. "Alderaan won't be able to fend for themselves. The Royal family will be dead or captured within the hour!" he said, as he shot past the last cruiser, and the ship began to rattle and shake violently. "Are we hit?"

"Negative!" Obi-Wan replied, "the Sith must have done more damage than we thought! Our engines are beginning to shake loose!"

"Hold it steady as long as possible!" Jinn snapped, "we're about to enter the atmosphere!"