12) Twilight of the Apprentice PT 1
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The next day Keanu, Ezra and Kanan were in the Phantom flying to Malachor. Dante and Ahsoka were speaking with a hologram of Rex.
"Once we drop out of hyperspace, we'll go dark" Ahsoka said.
"Are you sure about this?" Rex asked.
"Yes" Ahsoka replied.
"Ahsoka you don't have to go to Malachor alone"
"She's not alone" Dante said. "Don't worry, she'll be fine"
"You know… I could've order you two to take me along"
"You don't exactly out rank us anymore" Ahsoka said.
"In my book, experience outranks everything"
"Hmm, then we definitely out rank you" Dante said.
"May the force be with you" Rex said as his hologram disappeared. The parents noticed Keanu sitting across from them with his arm crossed. He was deep in thought about something.
"You ok Kid?" Dante asked, but Keanu didn't reply.
"Keanu" Ahsoka said raising his voice a little to grab his attention.
"Huh? Did you say something?" He asked.
"Were you ignoring us?"
"No, I was just… thinking." Keanu said with a sigh.
"Don't worry kid, everything's going to be fine" Dante said as the came out of hyperspace and entered Malachor's atmosphere. No one knew why Master Yoda sent them here, but they trusted his judgement. Chopper then picked up a faint signal.
"A ship?" Ezra asked. "What kind?"
Chopper grumbled for a bit, but he couldn't make it out.
"He says he can't make it out" Keanu said. "What do you wanna do?"
"Track it" Kanan said. "Let's see who else is interested in this place"
They flew the Phantom closer to the surface before spotting a cavern with eight pillars in the middle.
"Woah what is that?" Ezra asked.
"I don't know but the ship we're tracking went there" Kanan said. "Let's set her down"
But then Dante felt a familiar presence, one he couldn't remember.
"Dante are you ok?" Kanan asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just sense something down there" Dante said. "something familiar"
"A good familiar?" Ezra asked.
"Is it ever?" Dante replied as the Phantom landed near the pillars. The force wielders stepped out.
"I don't see any ships… or anything for that matter…" Keanu said as the group approached the pillars. They examined the writing closely.
"This writing – It's in the old tongue" Ahsoka said.
"Can either of you read it?" Kanan asked
"We can try" Ahsoka said "It's a very old text"
"Here let me" Dante said, as his helmet formed around his face. The visors illuminated blue and scanned the writing, but it could only make out a few words. "Ok… maybe not. Let's try something else."
Dante then retracted his visor and extended his hand. The writing radiated red before Dante retracted his hand in excitement and pain.
"Woo, what a rush. And that's gonna leave a mark" Dante said, clutching his hand.
"What happened, are you alright?" Kanan asked.
"Yeah I'm fine" Dante said. "There's something about this place that's keeping me from reading it. Maybe its something to do with my Demon blood"
Then Ezra felt something calling to him as he reached out to touch the pillar. Ahsoka turned to see him just before touching it.
"No Ezra don't!"
But it was too late, Ezra touched the pillar and it glowed an aggressive red. The ground under them collapsed as the five force wielders fell through and landed hard on ground. They were in some sort of cavern like system. The group got back up on their feet.
"Ezra, what happened to 'Don't'" Keanu said cracking his back. "Oh, that's gonna be a problem tomorrow."
"What is that?" Ezra asked as they observed a giant pyramid structure with the tip of it glowing crimson red.
"A Sith temple" Ahsoka said as she and the others walked through what seemed to be an ancient city, driven to nothing but stone and dust. Chopper then grunted through the commlink.
"Oh? We might fall through the surface. Thanks for the warning, Chop" Ezra said sarcastically.
"Any fix on that ship yet?" Kanan asked. Chopper grumbled his answer. "He's picked up the trail. This way"
The trail lead directly towards the temple, passing barricades of rubble and a demolished civilisation. It was quiet.
"I bet whatever we're looking for is inside that temple" Ezra said, breaking the silence.
"Seems likely" Kanan said. "Just remember, if there's a ship down here… we're not alone"
"Mom, you said we're here to find knowledge" Keanu said. "What kind exactly?"
"The forbidden kind" Ahsoka replied. "To defeat you're enemy, you must know them. Understand them"
"I don't like it, but when do we ever get a choice" Dante said.
"No better way to learn about the Sith then, I guess" Kanan said as the group continued their journey towards the temple. But the group were stopped by an eerie sight. Burnt corpses, stuck like statues.
"My god…" Dante said, examining one of the countless bodies. "Must have been one hell of a barabque…"
"The ground looks scorched" he said. "Hey Kanan, look a lightsaber. and another!"
Ezra picked up one of them. An emerald green blade ignited before two smaller blades ignited from the sides. But the blades disappeared shortly after due to lack of power in the saber. Kanan knelt next to Dante.
"This was a battlefield" Kanan said looking at the corpses.
"What happened here?" Keanu asked.
"It seems that one time, thousands of years ago, Jedi knights attacked the temple" Ahsoka said.
"And the Jedi won right?" Ezra asked.
"From what I can tell… I don't think anybody did" Dante said. "Just another pointless slaughter".
"I hate to break up this history lesson… but we should keep moving" Kanan said.
"If you ask me this whole planet is riddle" Keanu said.
"If it's a riddle, then what's the question?" Kanan with a smirk.
"Why are you such a- Get down!" He yelled as he pushed the Jedi out of the way with a massive tendril and blocked a pair of spinning red blades. It quickly retreated to Keanu's body before covering him completely. They all ignited their sabers and stood against a New Inquisitor.
"Five Jedi" the inquisitor said, clearly pleased with his discovery. "And whatever you are…"
"An Inquisitor!" Ezra said as he charged at them. But the inquisitor threw detonators into the ground.
"Ezra, wait!" Keanu said tackling the other Jedi as the detonator exploded and the teens fell through the hole it caused. Keanu hit the ground hard but softened Ezra's landing.
"Ezra!" Kanan cried out
"Keanu!" Both Dante and Ahsoka exclaimed as the adults looked through the hole and saw the teens. The inquisitor was escaping.
"Ok, from now on, I lead " He groined as Ezra got off him. The black liquid then disappeared into his black as he stood.
"Hey, are you guys ok?" Kanan called out.
"We're fine" Ezra replied.
"Well you are…" Keanu said under his breath. "Just go after him, before he escapes. We'll catch up"
The adults swiftly disappeared.
"Yeah we'll catch up as soon as we figure out where we are" Ezra said.
"I can tell you where you are…" an old voice said as the teens turned to see a hooded figure. "…You're with me"
Keanu and Ezra both ignited their sabers and stood in defensive positions.
"Please put your weapons away, I mean you no harm" the old man said.
"Stay back!" Ezra threatened, but the old man kept walked closer. "I'm warning you old man!"
"Forgive me…it- I've been alone for so long" the old man said weakly. "It's been years since I've spoken to anyone"
"You live here alone, in the dark?" Keanu asked still holding up his sabers.
"Not by choice?" The old man said. "My ship crashed. I'm trapped, marooned. I've had to scrounge and scrape to survive"
"Look, I'm sorry. I wish we could help you. But we have to get back to our friends and family" Ezra said looking for a way to the surface.
"Well, Perhaps I can help you" the old man said.
"I doubt that" Keanu scoffed.
"Why are you here?" The old man asked the teens.
"We're not gonna tell you that" Ezra said.
"You two came here for the same reason I did, years ago" the old man said. "You seek knowledge"
Both teens looked at each other, then to the old man.
"It's in the temple… isn't it?" Ezra asked.
"And I know of a secret way to get inside" the old man said. "but… but I'm too old. And I-I need help to open the door."
The teens slid down the small slope and approached the old man.
"What's inside?" Ezra asked
"Help me and find out" the old man said.
"Show us the doorway" Ezra said
"Please, this way" the old man said.
"You first" Keanu said.
"Do you not trust me?" The old man asked.
"We don't know you" Ezra said.
"W-well let's change that" the old man said. "Call me, 'old master' and you two?"
"Call me Jabba" Ezra said.
"And I'm Zemo" Keanu replied.
"Hmm… Come then Jabba and Zemo" Old Master said as followed his trail. Keanu pulled Ezra close to him.
"Ezra, tell me that something about him doesn't seem right" the Jedi said.
"Dude, calm down" Ezra said as they followed the old man. "He wants to help us"
Later the teens and the old master were walking underneath another temple like structure, searching for the doorway.
"How much further?" Ezra asked.
"You worry about your friends?" Old master asked.
"They need our help" Ezra said.
"Yes…and with good reason. The inquisitor is powerful" Old master said making the teens stop in their tracks.
"Wait… you know about the inquisitor?" Keanu asked as the Old master faced them.
"He is my enemy" Old master said. "All Inquisitors and their masters are my enemies"
"Were you a Jedi?" Ezra asked.
"Uh…No... no, no" the old master said. "But I was once a force wielder Long, long, long ago"
"Then you're a Sith!" Keanu growled as the teens raised their sabers.
"The Sith…the Sith, took everything from me..." Old master growled. "Ripped me from my mother's arms, murdered my brother, used me as a weapon and cast me aside. Abandoned me. Once I had power...now I have nothing… nothing"
"I know how you feel" Ezra said, lowering his saber. Keanu remained silent. "the Empire took my mother, my father"
"And you?" Old master said, looking at the other Jedi. He was silent for a moment.
"I've lost friends… family. Even a part of myself." Keanu said, looking at his bio arm. "And for what, some pointless war?"
"And you want revenge" Old master said.
"We want Justice!" Ezra said
"Yes, yes! And you both shall have it" Old master said. "For I have discovered the key"
"What key?" Keanu asked.
"The key… to destroying the Sith" Old master said.
"That's the knowledge inside the temple?" Ezra asked as they continued along the trail.
"Yes, that temple hold secrets of the Sith. Secrets that have been buried with the dead for thousands of years" Old Master said as they approached the door.
"And you'll share that knowledge with us?" He asked.
"Yes. Yes, of course" Old master said as they entered the temple to search for the knowledge they were seeking. Ezra and Old master walked up the stairs, but Keanu stopped. He sensed something, hidden amongst the rubble. He rose his hand and cleared the rubble with the force revealing…
"A ring?" He asked as he picked it up and looked at it closely. It was a stunning silver, accompanied by a blood red gem. But then he noticed red writing around the entirety of the ring. It also started to glow.
"Hey, Keanu come on!" Ezra called out When Keanu looked back, the ring stopped glowing and its shininess disappeared, as did the writing.
"On my way!" He called back as he slid the ring into his pocket and climbed up the stairs. Moments later, they entered the temple.
"Woah" Ezra said stunned.
"A place of worship to some" Old Master said. "To others, an engine of destruction and in the heart, lies our prize"
"How do we get in?" Ezra asked.
"Two must lift the stones. No more, no less. That is the way of the Sith" Old master said.
"You sure seem to know a lot about them" Ezra said.
"To defeat your enemy, you must know your enemy" Old master said. "Even practice their beliefs"
"That's what my mother said" Keanu said.
"Then she is wise" Old master said.
"Yeah but I don't think our masters would approve of that last one" Ezra said.
"Then they are doomed to fail" Old master said. "Now Jedi, help me"
Ezra and Keanu hesitated then reached out with the force and tried to lift the stones. They struggled but pushed with all their might.
"We can't do it they're too heavy" Ezra said through the pain.
"Your anger is a wellspring. You must use it!" Old master said.
"But a Jedi is never supposed to act out of emotion." Ezra said.
"Your passions give you strength and through strength, you gain power" Old master said. "You have seen it, you feel it. You must break your chains"
"Ezra, let me" Keanu said as Ezra stepped back, exhausted. Keanu used the force to lift the stone but while doing so his appearance started changing again. Keanu was unaware that he had switched into his Demon form due to the pure concentration of lifting the stones. The Old master was stunned.
"Yes, use your power. Feel the Darkside course through your veins, let it transform you"
Keanu grunted through the pain before he finally managed to lift the door. He and the others went into the temple, but it led nowhere.
"A dead end!" Ezra said.
"Focus young one" old master said to Keanu.
"Enough!" Keanu exclaimed. He raised his hand in rage and the stones were lifted immediately. They walked past as the slabs hit the ground behind them, cracking completely. Keanu then kneeled in exhaustion, panting heavily. He reverted to his normal self.
"You ok?" Ezra asked.
"I'm...yeah, I'm good" Keanu said as The Old master kneeled next to him.
"A gift you have. Unless you take risks, do what must be done, there will always be limits to your abilities" Old master said. "Seize the power. Do not become like me, Zemo and Jabba"
Ezra helped Keanu to his feet and they both looked at the old master.
"My name is Ezra, and this is Keanu" Ezra stuttered. "Those are our real names"
"Real name?" Old master asked. "I once had a name so long ago, I don't remember"
The Old Master then took off his hood, revealing to be a Zabrak with red and black skin.
"Now… now I am Maul"
Keanu's eyes were widened completely before he forced Maul into the wall, pinning him with his sabers.
"Keanu what are you doing!?" Ezra demanded.
"He's a murderer! He's Darth Maul, the one who enslaved Mandalore! The Demon Sith of Dathomir!" He yelled back while Maul's eyes became alert.
"Demon Sith? I have only heard that name spoken from one… The Demon Jedi."
Maul took a closer look at Keanu, before his mind flooded with flashbacks of previous battles with Dante. The face and hair should've been a dead giveaway for his father, but the red markings and the pure blue eyes immediately revealed the mother.
"Yes… yes, I see it now" Maul said. "The eyes of the Mother… the face of the Father, you are their descendant…why hadn't I seen it before?"
"This is for everyone you killed!" He exclaimed raising his Saber to kill Maul, but Ezra grabbed his arm.
"Keanu, stop!" Ezra said. "He's our only clue to destroying the Sith"
"He is a Sith! Ezra, we can't trust him!" He said.
"I know, but what other choice do we have?" Ezra said as Keanu looked back at him then to Maul. He deactivated his sabers.
"Fine…" He said coldly before turning to Maul. "If you try anything, I'll kill you myself and wait for your sorry ass in hell …"
Moments later, the teens and Maul walked into a chamber. They spotted a glowing red holocron in the middle of the room.
"Behold the key" Maul said, gesturing to the holocron.
"It's a holocron" Ezra said.
"So, you know of them" Maul said.
"Yeah my Master has one, but it's different" Ezra replied.
"Because this is a Sith Holocron, one that holds all their secrets" Maul said.
"So how do we get to it?" Keanu asked
"It is a test. Only someone with the courage to risk oblivion can claim it" Maul said.
"Throw me" Ezra said. "Ill jump and you use the force to throw me"
"Ezra NO! We can't trust him!" Keanu said.
"We don't have a choice" Ezra said stepping back. Then Ezra took a running start and jumped across the ledge whilst Maul threw him far enough, so Ezra landed next to the Holocron.
"Ezra are you ok!?" Keanu yelled.
"Yeah I'm fine!" Ezra called back as he pulled out the Holocron. But the temple started to shake, and the platform Ezra was on began to rise.
"Ezra jump!" He called out.
"I can't! I won't make it!" Ezra said.
"Yes, you can!" Keanu said. "I'll catch you!"
Ezra took a deep breath and jumped down as Keanu extended his hand. A long black tendril shot out of his arm and grabbed the young Jedi, pulling him to safety.
"Thanks " Ezra said.
"No problem bro" Keanu said as they started their search for the others. Ezra observed the Sith Holocron, tampering with it.
"How do you open this?" He asked.
"One must be a Sith or think like one" Maul replied. "but it has other uses; give it to me and I will show you"
Ezra hesitated but then gave Maul the Holocron. The former sith placed it in the wall next to him and the walls opened.
"Sith Holocrons are keys that can open many doors" Maul said giving Ezra the Holocron. As the last door opened, they saw Kanan, Ahsoka and Dante fighting off the Inquisitors. Ezra and Keanu ignited their sabers and ran to the adults.
"Ezra!" Kanan said as he saw his padawan.
"Keanu! " Ahsoka said with relief.
"Glad your ok, kid" Dante said as they all stood in a line.
"We've brought help" Ezra said as the three adults saw the former Sith.
"Maul?!" Dante and Ahsoka questioned as they saw their old adversary.
"The shadow…" the new Inquisitor said with awe. Maul chuckled deeply.
"What fun… what fun!"
The Inquisitors were standing across from the 5 force wielders and Maul. The 7th Sister spoke up, stepping forward.
"So, the rumours are true, Darth Maul lives"
"Formerly Darth, now just Maul" Maul said approaching.
"Ezra step away from him!" Kanan said.
"Keanu you too!" Ahsoka ordered.
"Kanan I swear he's with us" Ezra said.
"Perhaps my actions can speak louder than words" Maul said as he detached the handle from his cane. Two crimson blades ignited from each side. The former sith leapt forward and clearly was an expert in this form. Maul fought masterfully as he locked blades with the 7th sister.
"Why would you come here?" the 7th sister asked.
"He knows of the artefact!" the 5th brother said as he locked blades with Kanan. Ahsoka did the same with the 8th brother.
"The Holocron… do you have It?" The 8th brother asked Maul.
"You will find out soon enough" Maul said as he pushed the 7th sister back.
"Fall back!" The 7th sister said as the inquisitors used their lightsabers as propellers and escaped. Dante turned to Maul.
"So, what are the odds of us running into you, Maul?" Dante growled as Maul chuckled.
"A privilege to meet your acquaintance again… Dante" Maul said. "How you've grown, and I see you've been busy with Lady Tano… what an adorable couple you are"
Bu then Dante grabbed the former Sith by the throat.
"As much as I'd love to catch up, I'd suggest you give me a reason why I shouldn't gut you for everything you've done!" Dante said. "Now talk!"
"Do you expect me… to tell you… if I can't…breathe…" Maul said gasping for air. Dante dropped him.
"That wasn't an answer" Dante snarled about to cut down Maul but Ahsoka stopped him.
"Dante, stop. It's what he wants. Don't kill him out of rage or you'll be just like him" Ahsoka pleaded as Dante sheathed his blade. The old man slowly stood.
"I can see…where he gets his rage from…Like father…like son" Maul coughed.
"Now what game are you playing?" Ahsoka demanded as Maul stood up. He looked to where the Inquisitors disappeared.
"The endgame, Lady Tano" Maul replied. "The endgame."
"The hell do you mean?" Dante questioned as Maul turned to them.
"I am the enemy of your enemy now and I have my own reason for wanting the Empire to fall. But we have little time. The one they call Vader will be here soon."
"How do you know?" Kanan asked as all force wielders sheathed their blades.
"His dogs will tell him where we are" Maul said. "Three Jedi and two-part timers. Oh, He will come. He will not be able to resist us"
"Hold on, there is no us" Kanan said. "Dealing with inquisitors is one thing, Vader is another. And I'm not convinced that we're on the same anyway"
"Kanan we should trust him" Ezra said pulling out the Sith Holocron, presenting it to the adults. "Look. He, Keanu and I took this from the temple together, this is why we came here right? To find out how to beat the Sith. Ahsoka you said we came here for knowledge"
"Ezra there is no way a Jedi can unlock that Holocron" Ahsoka said.
"But It may unlock the temple itself" Maul said.
"How? Tell me how" Ezra said.
"At the top of the temple there is a chamber. Connect the holocron to the obelisk within and you can unlock the ancient knowledge of the Sith" Maul replied.
"Why are you trying so hard to keep us here?" Dante asked as Maul froze.
"I cannot defeat Vader alone" Maul replied.
"I say we stay with him" Ezra said.
"Yeah well I say we go" Kanan argued.
"Look, I love the sights, but we've outstayed our welcome, so that settles it" Dante said.
"You are such cowards that you would run from a chance to defeat your enemies?" Maul asked in disbelief. "Those who would slaughter your friends?"
"Kanan?" Ezra asked looking to his master. Kanan looked to Ahsoka, then she looked to Dante who scowled. He sighed in defeat.
"Damn it..." Dante growled as Kanan turned on his comlink.
"Chopper, we're staying for a while" Kanan said as Chopper started complaining. "Yeah I know it's a bad Idea, just scan the area for incoming ships and keep the Phantom out of sight"
"Oh, How exciting. We're on the same side" Maul said standing next to Kanan.
"Just show us how to get to the top" Kanan said. "And hurry"
"This way" Maul said as he led the others to the temple. Maul led the 5 force wielders to a corner of the temple. He placed his hand on the wall which caused the side to slide down like an elevator. Both Maul and Ezra got while Kanan tried to join them.
"Only two no more no less" Maul said.
"Yeah? Well these two come as a set" Kanan said pushing Maul aside. "You ok riding with Grandpa?"
"Jolly" Dante said sarcastically. The Sith touched the wall, making Ezra and Kanan go up. The pillar returned and Maul got on.
"Come young one" Maul said, gesturing for Keanu to join him but Dante stepped in front.
"Woah. How about we catch up old friend" Dante said sarcastically. "Stay with your Mother"
Dante and Maul went up and vanished from their sight. But know they were wondering how to get up.
"Now how are we gonna get up there?" Ahsoka asked.
Keanu hesitated but touched the wall, hoping it wouldn't work but instead, a staircase opened from the side, instead of the lift.
"Am I evil? Am I going to become a Sith like… Vader?"
"No sweetie" Ahsoka said hugging the young jedi. "You are brave, kind and selfless like your father. It's your blood that allows you to do these things"
"I hope your right"
"A mother always is" Ahsoka said as they ascended the staircase. When they made it to the top, they witnessed Kanan and Maul fighting of the 8th Brother. Ezra was hanging on to the edge for dear life.
Keanu ran toward his best friend, sliding across the floor to grab his friend. He quickly pulled him up as the inquisitors made his escape. They then saw the other two inquisitors fly above them.
"Looks like they figured out your plan" Kanan said to Maul.
"Then we shall alter it" Maul said. "I recommend we split up scale the pyramid from two sides. They will also have to divide their forces."
"Let me guess Ezra and Keanu go with you? no thanks" Kanan said.
"It is the logical choice" Maul said.
"I say we spilt up" Ezra said "trust me"
"I'm gonna regret this" Keanu mumbled, walking up to Ezra.
"Excellent, excellent" Maul said with a sigh. "You three will find a lift on the far side we will meet again on the next terrace"
Maul and the teens then disappeared from their sight.
"They'll be fine" Ahsoka said to the other Jedi.
"Really how do you know?" Kanan asked. "He's unpredictable and will do anything to get what he wants"
"Because we taught them" Ahsoka replied.