Everyone understood Rex's hesitation for keeping Maul, but seeing him voicing them at the meeting made it clear. He didn't like Maul, based on what he did during the war, and he wouldn't be moved by his decision on it.

"I understand your hesitation, Captain Rex," Commander Sato explained, keeping a calm tone. He himself remembers the stories of Maul, especially those pertaining to Mandalore. "I myself have some reservations about this situation. He is a dangerous man, and I don't trust him 100%."

"Then why is he still here!?" Rex's voice was starting to break, tired from arguing about this topic since Maul set foot at the base. "He is too dangerous to be left alive, let alone on the same planet, and he was a Sith Lord at one point."

"Apprentice," piped up Kanan, ignoring the glare from the old clone. "Not a lord, but an apprentice."

"Still a Sith!"

"That is enough!" Sato's commanding voice took over, silencing everyone. WIth everyone watching him, and Rex breathing deeply, Sato took a breath before ending the conversation. "I am allowing Maul here, for the time being, until Mon Mothma arrives back in three days. When she returns, we will discuss the next course. Until then, we watch Maul for any signs of deception or alternative motives, understood?"

Rex looked to argue more, but bit his tongue and nodded. Others around, Kanan and Hera included, nodded as well. "Very well. Dismissed." Some salutes were done, Rex's being forced and tense, before the group disbanded. Kanan and Hera, who were silent for the majority of the debate, walked up to Rex, who had a hard glare at them.

"What were you thinking Kanan?" A mad Rancor was behind Rex's voice, barely being held back by his discipline and training. "Bringing that weapon here?!"

"Rex-"

"He may never have been in the Clone Wars," Rex began to rant again. Kanan went silent, knowing not to interrupt until it was needed. "But I remember what his brother did on one mission. He even took out two Jedi, with a squad of clones, like animals, and I was told Maul was 10 times as bad!" Rex stared at Kanan, wanting an answer. "Don't you remember!"

"Of course I do." Kanan tried to keep a calm demeanor, remembering what he saw of Kenobi. He only met the Master on two occasions, both as a youngling, but they proved Maul's point. The first time was a passing glance, merely a few seconds, but the stature and disposition of the Jedi Master was a statement in the temple. The second was another glance, but he looked destroyed. Bruises covered his face and he seemed very weary and tired, weighed by a great pain that stood on the edge of the Force. It was a hard hit to see the proud and well-known Jedi seem mortal. "I remember his deeds. I heard about Mandalore, and the sadness that followed Kenobi after it."

"Then why is he here?"

Kanan looked at Rex, and both understood something. It wasn't an entirely smart decision, they both could easily see that, but it was a gut decision. Something told Kanan to take Maul, and he listened to the Force and his intuition. Rex understood it, it was what saved him on countless missions, and what helped deal with Krell back on Umbar. Lost a lot of good clones that day.

"I don't know."


The group had returned to the Ghost, after finding Zeb some time later, and had some hesitation on being on the ship with Maul. His reputation preceded him, and it gave them much to worry about. Kanan, Hera and Zeb reached the cargo bay, and felt themselves relax when they saw both Sabine and Ezra alive and well. They were sitting on crates, talking to themselves and with Maul, who sat next to Ezra. From a distance, they could see that it was a calm conversation, not tensed with nerves or aggression, and they saw a smile upon Sabine's face, which shocked all of them.

"-and then we escaped Lothal, the Empire nipping at our tails." Ezra finished the story, smiling like the carefree kid he was, and Maul actually nodded his head.

"The Empire is as inept as a Loth Cat on Mustafar." The three of them laughed, before Sabine saw the others returning. Clearing her throat, she stepped off the crate and turned to them.

"How did the meeting go?"

"As well as it could go," Hera answered, eyeing Maul carefully. A supposed mad man was on her ship, and she would do anything necessary to protect it and her crew. Hearing Rex lose her composure about the man put her on edge, and it took a lot for the discipline of the clone to be broken. "How's the leg?"

"It has been...improved." To prove his point, Maul stretched and bent them, hearing silence and the lack of rusty metal. "I thank you for the use of your parts, and I thank both Ezra and Sabine for the aid. I'm not as mechanical as I once was."

"It was nothing," Ezra replied, smiling his usual cocky smile.

"Nothing too hard," Sabine added, crossing her arms.

"Well that's all well and good," Zeb broke through, his usual rough and gruff tone, "But we've got one problem."

"Problem?" Hera asked.

"Where is Maul going to sleep?"

It was silent, and Zeb was right. They were willing to put up with him in their ship, but where would he sleep? Putting him in either Hera or Sabine's bunk would be risky, and awkward, and neither Zeb or Ezra was giving up their bunks, even if Ezra did think about it.

"I could sleep in the cargo bay." Maul proposed. "It would be similar to me sleeping on Malachor."

Even if she felt bad, letting someone sleep on the floor in her ship, Hera found herself liking the idea. Not leaving Maul alone, but he wouldn't be in a close proximity to anyone, and wouldn't have a strike distance to anyone. Looking around she saw looks of agreement on the others, except Kanan. He had a deep thinking look, which meant he was planning something bold, which made Hera sigh.

"Why doesn't he sleep in my room?" Everyone, including Maul, looked at the man like he just said he was a gungan in disguise. Even Hera, who expected something stupid, couldn't keep her composure at the idea. All of the crew went to protest, but one protest beat them to it, from the unlikeliest of sources.

"I-I do not think that is a wise idea." Maul's own protest was what the crew was thinking, but hearing it confused them. He was, basically, offered a bed and a potentially lethal position with their Jedi, and yet refused? "It would seem rather...risky to place us in a similar room, or me with anyone else. I am happy sleeping in the bay, it wouldn't be a problem."

"Not how I see it." Kanan said, ignoring the stares of his crew. He pushed forward, stepping calmly and easily towards Maul, making the old Zabrak feel uncomfortable. "You are with us, for the time being, and it would be cruel of us to deny a bed for anyone. We may be rebels, and you and I might share a certain...history," Maul winced at that, but didn't interrupt, "But we help those who need it, regardless of past actions."

It was silent. No one knew how to reply to Kanan's declaration, and they felt themselves caving in at it. He was right: it was cruel to deny Maul a bed, even if they didn't want to give in. They were better than the Empire, and doing this would make them similar to them, which burned something hot in their guts. Hera found herself relenting on it, and eyeing Kanan with a glare that was hinted with worry.

"You Jedi are too sentimental." Maul replied, finally, and smiled tentatively at Kanan. It took a moment to process before the crew realized he was making a joke, and Kanan couldn't help but give a chuckle.

"And proud of it." Maul gave a small laugh, but his smile stayed. Everyone felt themselves relax, but still warry, and figured they wouldn't be able to change Kanan's mind.

"If it is alright with the rest of your crew," Maul gazed around the group. No one said no, but he could see the reservations on their lips, except Ezra, who just looked a little surprised at Kanan still. When no one said anything, Maul looked back towards Kanan. "Then I will accept your hospitality, and thank you for it."

"Happy to help."

"Kanan," Hera finally spoke. The conversation was tense with the topic, and seeing Kanan risk himself annoyed her. "Can I have a word with you."

"Sure." Kanan spoke, acting like he did nothing wrong. Calmly, and throwing Maul one last cheeky grin, he followed Hera up into the Ghost, leaving the others in the bay.

Maul let out a tired sigh, his smile fading from his face. The quick change put the others on edge, before they saw him sit on a nearby crate. "I will still sleep in the bay. I know that none of you will let me sleep in a cabin with someone, and am content on sleeping here."

"*exhales* Once Kanan gets an idea, he sticks with it till the end." Sabine explained, rubbing her forehead. "And nothing will change his mind."

"Stubborn as a Hutt he is." Zeb added, giving a slight glare to Maul.

"So you'll spend the night with him." Ezra, even the second most open to Maul, had a slight edge to his tone, something that Maul stood a little taller at.

Ezra was, by far, the friendliest to him, since he had no real memory of his deeds or past, but this was a test, much like the Sith Temple. If Maul could psas it, and keep them safe in the process, then he would earn a ton of respect and ease with the crew and, by extension, the rebellion. Yet, Maul was still afraid for such a simple task, for he still relapsed in his dreams, the memories of his torture, his anger, his power and his hunger. Force help him, should he do something by accident, which would hurt him forever here.


"I know-"

"I really don't think you use your brain when needed." Hera scolded, attempting to rub her awakening headache away. She knew something like this would happen, her gut told her, and she knew Kanan would be the source of it. He was smart when it was required, yet he often let his heart come forward and, being the idealistic Jedi he was taught to be, he followed what should be right, rather than what has to get done. It was admirable, and welcoming in these dark days, but he was rash and stubborn when that happened.

Karabast, Hera mentally scolded, Why couldn't I have gotten a less stubborn Jedi?

"Hera-"

"Is it your specialty to be stupid and foolish?"

"Well-"

"This is a horrible idea."

"With that attitude it is."

"Kanan," Hera's shoulders slumped, feeling the days activity finally catch up with her. She was too tired to have another argument and wanted to continue it tomorrow.

A pair of hands gently touched her shoulders, rubbing them soothingly, easing some of her tension. Even if she was in the middle of the argument, she relaxed and took a deep breath.

"It's a risk." Kanan said, looking straight into her eyes.

"Is a foolish one."

"When have I ever done something serious?" His signature grin came on, wearing her resistance even more. Judging by the look in his eye, Hera saw that he knew she was tired, which is the only time he ever won an argument. That is, afterall, how he got a ride on the Ghost all those years ago. Her gut kept telling her this was a bad idea, that something was going to happen, and she wanted to warn him about it.

"I know. I have the same worry about it." Kanan seemed to go still, and Hera knew what he was doing. He was feeling around, using the 'Force', and judging based on the feelings of it. She hated it, at times, but knew that it often gave advice and good premonitions.

Why it only talked to this half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder, she'll never know.

"It will be a tense night," Kanan spoke, assuming his wisdom air and foretelling tone. "Something will happen, but it will be for the good."

"I hope you're right." Hera relented, looking at him with full worry in her eyes.

"I hope so too."