"Focus harder, young Ahsoka. Let the Force guide you," Master Yoda murmured. Maul watched her meditate intently. It gave him an excuse to admire her without it forming any awkwardness between them. He was also grateful it was not himself who had to meditate- after much debate, Maul was firm in not exploring their bond any further. He was content with where they had left off at, for lack of a better word. His affection for the Togruta had deepened. Yoda had spent several days training Ahsoka since their first day with Yoda. In those few days, Maul felt a small sense of peace. He sparred with Ahsoka and enjoyed her company, bantering sarcastically back and forth and speaking of the future of their mission. Yet, they had made no progress when it came to where they should go next. Ahsoka was enjoying her time on Dagobah, but even she sensed that they must keep moving in order to further their mission.
The day finally came when Maul and Ahsoka agreed to leave, and with a bittersweet goodbye, Master Yoda sent them on their way.
"Proud I am of you. Proud Anakin would have been," said Yoda. Tears welled in Ahsoka's eyes, and she hugged Yoda tightly.
"Thank you, master. I'm sorry we couldn't have done more here, but it makes me so happy to know there are still Jedi out there. I am happy you are alive and safe."
"Many Jedi there are. Nothing there is to be sorry for. Your faith in the Force has been strengthened, your hope restored. Hope there is in the galaxy, hope in you, and maybe hope in your companion. Follow the Force you must, and you will find your destiny. Be strong, young Ahsoka, and may the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with you," Ahsoka replied, bowing respectfully. She tore herself from Yoda's presence, turning her back towards the ship where Maul was waiting.
"Ahsoka," Yoda called after her. She turned her head.
"Yes?"
"Rebel base there is on Jedha. Go there, but unwelcome Maul will be. Tread carefully. Under Imperial rule Jedha now is." Ahsoka's eyes widened, and she bowed deeply.
"And what of Tatooine?"
"No. Death there is for Maul on Tatooine. Go there you must not, but help you can on Jedha."
"I will not let you down. Thank you, master." Yoda nodded, and the two finally parted. Ahsoka made her way to the ship, where Maul was sitting patiently in the cockpit.
"Are you ready, my lady?" Maul asked. Ahsoka nodded, and Maul quickly began powering up the ship. A few moments passed, and with one last look at Yoda, they blasted off into space.
"Yoda gave me the location of a rebel base when we said goodbye. It's on Jedha," she murmured. Maul rolled his eyes.
"What a joy it was to watch you and the frog meditate for nearly a week while that information must've slipped his mind," he muttered.
"Well, my mind has become much more peaceful. Don't ruin it," Ahsoka chuckled. Maul thought of retorting with something sarcastic, but only sighed instead. He had actually enjoyed watching and sparring with her, and felt a sliver of peace himself.
"The time for peacefulness is over. Now it is time to further our mission, one of which is on a planet ruled by Sidious now."
"I know, but it's our only hope. Set coordinates for Jedha," Ahsoka commanded, and within a few moments they blasted off into hyperspace towards their next destination.
XXX
"You're nervous," Maul noted. It had been three days since they departed from Dagobah, three days of Ahsoka pondering what awaited for them on Jedha.
"It's hard not to be. If any clone sees either of our faces, we're doomed."
"If perchance a clone sees either of us, he shan't live with it long," Maul murmured.
"The clones are good men. I don't want them harmed. If it weren't for those chips, they would never have betrayed the Jedi" Ahsoka sighed sadly. Maul glanced over at her.
"What became of the clone you escaped with?" he asked curiously.
"After we escaped, we tried to survive on a farm together for a month or so. He worked to support me, but eventually we both decided it would be best to part ways. Rex decided to try to save as many clones as he can by taking out their chips, and I decided to try to seek out other Jedi or Force-sensitive people, or any rebels. Looks like I found the latter," she murmured, tears welling in her eyes. She omitted the part about meeting back up with Rex on Tatooine, knowing of Yoda's warning. She missed Rex deeply- something Maul picked up on immediately.
"You miss him," Maul said flatly. She felt a cold front in their bond.
"I do."
"I thought Jedi weren't allowed to form attachments," he muttered. Why does she care so much about this clone? He seethed quietly, wondering about the extent of their relationship. Most of all, he was irritated by his own jealousy.
"I'm not a Jedi."
"No, but you were when you knew this… Rex." Maul avoided her gaze, pretending to busy himself with the ship's controls while waiting impatiently for her answer. Ahsoka felt his irritation in the Force, and squinted her eyes at him. What is he insinuating? She thought, and furthermore, she wondered why the peace between them was disturbed by the mention of Rex in the first place.
"A Jedi shouldn't form attachment to the point where it corrupts them, but that doesn't mean I can't have friends. Rex was one of the people closest to me, and still is," she answered honestly. This only seemed to infuriate Maul even more.
"You could take out the chip of any other clone, no? Is he not genetically the same as every other one?" he muttered.
"Well, yes, and no… He is technically the same genetically, but that doesn't mean he's the same person. There was always something special about Rex."
"Ah, I see, unique just like everyone else," Maul spat sarcastically. Ahsoka began to feel herself become irritated as well.
"I'll remind you Rex is the reason I'm alive after you left me for dead on that ship," she said sternly. Maul flinched, a deep anger filling him.
"I'll remind you, Lady Tano, that he also tried to kill you as well on that very ship."
"Did Sidious put a chip in your head too?," she spat. Maul turned to her, his eyes piercing into her like laser blasts.
"Oh how sometimes I wish he had so I wouldn't have to listen to this insufferable deification of a clone identical to millions of others," Maul snarled.
"You asked! What the hell is your problem with Rex? I haven't done anything that gives you the right to be angry, have I?" Ahsoka yelled back. Maul opened his mouth to retaliate, but stopped himself. She was right, and he had let his personal feelings take reign.
"Forget it," Maul growled, turning back to the monitor. His body language had cooled, but his jealousy pierced through the bond between them. Ahsoka stared at him dumbfounded. What was all that? She wondered. Ahsoka looked at him for a few moments, reaching out in the Force. Jealousy… What in the world is he jealous about? Suddenly, a strange thought crept into her mind. Is he jealous of Rex and I? She thought. Does he… like me… like that? Her lekku flushed a shade of red. No, no, that's ridiculous. Darth Maul, Sith Lord, my arch nemesis, having a crush on me? It seemed far fetched, but the realization began to take hold in her mind.
The way he looked at her, the way he touched her. How he protected her fiercely, and sought her out for months. The way he asked her to rule alongside him on Mandalore. The way he opened up to her about his personal life, things she was sure were only known to him and Savage. The way he was so vicious and strong, yet gentle and caring to her and her only. The way he deeply feared her leaving, and the comfort he felt when she approached him- all began to piece together in her mind. Am I being ridiculous? She thought. Yes, I'm being very ridiculous.
"Rex was and is only a close friend, like you and I," she blurted aloud, as if to calm her own uncertainties. Maul's head whipped around, his eyes smoldering like two infernos. Maul looked at her longingly. If you only knew how much you mean to me, he thought bitterly.
"Is that what we are, my lady?" he breathed softly in his raggedy voice. Her lekku and face blushed slightly. Before she could answer, the ship shook violently, several alarms being set off.
"We're under attack!" Maul barked, "Get to the turret, now!"
Ahsoka did so, quickly jumping into the gunner's seat. A TIE fighter screamed behind them, blasting at the ship which creaked of broken metal with each blast. Shit, she thought. This is bad… But why is it attacking our Imperial ship? She wondered. It struck her odd that the TIE was attacking another Imperial model, but it didn't matter. They were going to shoot her and Maul down if she didn't act fast.
She began to fire, the TIE easily evading her blasts. Maul quickly spun the ship downward, but their ship was far too clunky compared to the sleek, agile TIE. She fired again, several of the blasts hitting the TIE, but doing little damage. In return, the TIE blasted their ship, several of which alerted Maul's monitor to critical conditions.
"The situation is getting dire! Destroy it!" Maul snarled back at her.
"I can't! It's too agile!" Ahsoka fired again, as did the TIE as it danced behind them. The TIE directed its fire to the turret where Ahsoka was, landing a blow directly on the gunner. A small explosion blew, sending Ahsoka flying backwards, hitting the wall with a pained shriek. Maul turned his head in a panic to find her laying on the floor.
"Lady Tano!" he screamed just before the TIE blasted into their damaged ship one last time. The engines were badly destroyed, and while the ship could move, the hyperdrive was done for. Their ship sat like a sitting duck, waiting to be destroyed by the TIE as it began to circle back for a third assault. He checked the escape pods, and to his horror found that one of the two had been rendered unusable. He knew what that meant. Fuck it, Maul thought after realizing the extent of the damage, and instead made his way back to Ahsoka. She was conscious, muffled sounds coming from her mouth as she awoke.
"My lady," Maul gasped in a panic, kneeling down beside her. He frantically looked over her, assessing her injuries. Luckily, he couldn't find anything beyond minor bruises and scrapes.
"I'm fine, just dazed is all," she groaned. "Why is the TIE attacking us?"
"Someone must've gotten a tip that we are here, I don't know."
"How bad is the damage? Where is the TIE?"
"The hyperdrive is destroyed, and the ship is badly damaged. It's coming back soon, and-"
"We need to get to the escape pods," Ahsoka said immediately. Maul's jaw clenched.
"You need to. Go now," he murmured. Ahsoka's head whipped towards him, her eyes widening in shock.
"What are you saying? C'mon, there's two-"
"One is damaged. There is only room for one of us to get off the ship alive. Go, now," he ordered. Tears began to well in Ahsoka's eyes.
"No, no… You can't-"
"I will hold them off so you can escape, but if you refuse to hurry, that TIE will come back and kill us both. Only one of us has to die. We haven't much time- leave, now!"
"I can't leave you, I won't!" Ahsoka cried, going up to Maul and holding onto him tightly.
"Lady Tano-"
"No!" she sobbed.
"Ahsoka, I beg you!" Maul snarled at her, trying to push her away. It was the first time he had ever said her name, the urgency in his voice tangible as it quivered with emotion.
"I won't leave you!" she retorted, burying her head in his shoulder. Maul roared angrily, force holding her into the air as he began to quickly make their way towards the escape pods.
"No, you can't make me! Stop!" Ahsoka bawled, fighting futilely to free herself from Maul's grasp to no avail. He was much stronger than her, made evident to her now.
"My lady, forgive me, but it must be done. I will get you away from this place as far as I can and as quickly as I can," he ordered, forcing her into the pod. She grasped the edges for a moment and tried to claw her way out to no avail.
"Maul, please, you're all I have now! Come into the pod, please, don't do this!" she begged, tears streaming down her eyes. He shook his head, knowing his fate. Maul's own eyes began to fill with tears, but he said nothing. Instead, he closed the door and locked her inside while he configured the pod's route back to Dagobah.
"There's not enough air for the two of us, forgive me," Maul sighed.
"How could you?!" Ahsoka wailed, banging on the door as Maul continued to calibrate the course. The TIE screamed faintly in the background, making its final approach to finish what was left of their ship.
"How could I not?" Maul murmured softly, raising his palm to meet Ahsoka's on the glass. They stared into each other's tear-stained eyes for a moment, Ahsoka's frantically looking back at Maul's serene ones. You were all that was kind and good in my life, thank you. Goodbye, my lady... he painfully thought to her through the bond before hitting the eject button with his other hand. Ahsoka watched him quickly fade away, and in that moment realizing all he had meant to her in the last several months. Her heart broke in two as she blasted away, Maul fading out of sight. No, no, no… she thought to no one.
"Even on death's door, I can't bring myself to tell you how much I've loved you," Maul sighed aloud, shielding himself from her even now. Maul sat down in the cockpit tiredly watching as the TIE approached the ship one last time, several blasts raining down. "C'est la vie," he murmured softly.
XXX
"Cease fire," the commander of the TIE ordered. His crew did so, waiting patiently for their next orders. "Prepare for boarding. Capture any prisoners alive if you can, otherwise execute them."
"Sir yes sir!" the handful of crew barked back, preparing their blasters to stun any survivors. The TIE slowly came to a halt, the boarding platform slowly securing itself onto the nearly destroyed Imperial ship. The commander left the ship in command to the co-pilot, readying his own weapon. Saw Gerrera excitedly awaited yet another victory for the Republic, while Lux readied his weapon, waiting anxiously for the boarding door to open. It finally did so, and they entered the ship cautiously but intently.
"Rebel star fleet commanding your immediate surrender!" Lux yelled out, only to be met with a deep rumbling of laughter.
"Come out with your hands up!" he barked. Instead, a lone lightsaber rolled out onto the floor. Maul clapped slowly, turning his seat from the cockpit towards the two as they pointed their blasters at him.
"Well well, isn't this an interesting turn of events," Maul chuckled, grinning from ear to ear. Lux looked at Saw in confusion, who immediately stunned Maul, slumping him over in an unconscious heap.
"Holy shit…" Saw breathed shakily.
"What, Saw? Who is that?"
"Darth Maul, a Sith Lord, and Sidious's apprentice..." he sighed. Lux's eyes widened.