"So, the rumors are true- Darth Maul lives."

Noelle could feel her head getting light and black spots dotted her vision. She blinked them away as best as she could.

Maul lived.

How had he survived? Well, that was a stupid question, Noelle mused. He was always a survivor from day one. He had survived all those years after being cut in half by her old master and had lived on that trash planet.

Noelle shook her head slightly, trying to wake up from this terrible nightmare that she now knew to be reality. Why she was so afraid of Maul was something she didn't truly understand. Maybe it wasn't actually him she was afraid of.

"Formerly Darth- now just Maul," said the horned Sith, addressing the female Inquisitor.

"Ezra! Step away from him!" Kanan cried, reaching for his padawan.

"Kanan! I swear he's on our side!" the boy protested.

Being more obedient to Kanan more than Ezra was, Noelle uncomfortably side-stepped away from Maul as she met his yellow Sith eyes. There was a flicker of recognition in them.

Noelle scowled at him, but one thing she had never been good at was hiding her emotions. She couldn't hide her fear. Plus, the Sith thrived off of others' fear.

"Perhaps my actions will speak louder than words!" Maul pulled out his lightsaber. Leaping into the air, he landed in the midst of the Inquisitors and kicked one of them out of the way as if he were child's play.

"What are we waiting for?" Ezra cried.

Noelle clenched her teeth. "You realize who that is, don't you?" she reprimanded Ezra. She knew it was uncalled for given that he wasn't her padawan, but neither Ahsoka nor Kanan were objecting to this! Learning the secrets of the Sith was one thing. Teaming up with them was another.

Ezra just frowned also and gave Noelle an annoyed look as if he knew perfectly well what he was doing. "Yes I know who he is!"

Did he really?

"Why would you come here?" the female Inquisitor asked Maul.

"He knows of the artifact!" the big grey one concluded. He ran at Kanan.

The other one ran at Ahsoka, who blocked him.

"The Holocron! Do you have it?" the female Inquisitor screeched.

Holocron?!

Maul gave a sly grin. "You will know soon enough!"

Seeing they were outmatched three to five, the Inquisitors retreated, spinning up into the air on their helicopter lightsabers.

Cowards... Noelle thought, shaking her head.

She turned to Maul, ignoring the dread in her stomach. "Ok, you." She pointed her lightsaber at him.

Maul gave her an amused look. "Yes?"

"What game are you playing?" Ahsoka interjected.

Maul turned away from them and closed his eyes.

"The Endgame, Lady Tano. The Endgame."

Noelle felt the cold pierce her chest before he finished the sentence. She then realized what her true fear was. It wasn't of Maul himself. It was his words. It was his knowledge and premonition of the future that frightened her. He had been right the first time and she hadn't believed him.

"What does that mean?" she whispered.

Noelle didn't expect the reaction she got from him. Maul narrowed his amber eyes at her.

"Would you truly believe me this time, padawan?"

Noelle also knew that he was the only one who saw the terror in her eyes, because none of the others reacted to his statement. Not even Ahsoka.

Maul changed the subject. "I am the enemy of your enemy now, and I have my own reasons for wanting the Empire to fall, but we have little time. The one they call Vader will be here soon."

"And how do you know that?" Noelle asked suspiciously, raising her eyebrows.

"His dogs will tell him where we are." He snorted amusedly. "Three Jedi and a part-timer."

A look of regret passed Ahsoka's face and Noelle crossed her arms. "I think you mean two part-timers," she added. "And besides-"

"Oh, he will come," Maul said. "He won't be able to resist us."

"Ok. Hold on!" Kanan stopped him. "There is no us! I'm not convinced we're all on the same side anyway."

"Kanan, we should trust him!" Ezra protested.

"Yeah, we should trust the red demon guy with the horns and yellow eyes," Noelle said sarcastically, crossing her arms.

Before Maul could respond with some other smart comment, Ezra held up a red pyramidal structure in his hands. "Look! He and I took this from the Temple together!"

So that was the Holocron the Inquisitors had been referring to.

"That's why we came here right?" Ezra continued. "To find out about the Sith, to find a way to beat them? Ahsoka! You said we came here for knowledge!"

"Ezra," Ahsoka said gently but firmly. "There is no way a Jedi can unlock that Holocron."

"But you may unlock the Temple itself," Maul interjected.

"How! Tell me how!"

Maul began to explain how to use the Holocron to "unlock" the Temple.

Noelle didn't like any of this. This was probably one of the dumbest plans she had been involved in for a long time. For starters, why had Master Yoda even sent them to Malachor in the first place? How was discovering "secrets" about the Sith supposed to help them defeat the Empire. Noelle was angry with herself for not having asked these questions before coming all the way out here.

Now look at them. They were teaming up with Maul and taking his advice for crying out loud! She wanted to smack herself for being such an idiot. She feared his knowledge, but by no means trusted him.

"Why are you working so hard to keep us here?"

The voice belonged to Ahsoka.

"I cannot defeat Vader alone," Maul answered.

Noelle glanced at Ahsoka who was frowning hard, but a look of pain passed briefly across her face even though she attempted to hide it.

Maul knew what he was doing.

"I say we stay with him..." Ezra glanced at Kanan.

"Yeah? Well I say we go!" Kanan had the right idea.

Maul gave an exasperated sigh. "Are you such cowards that you would run from the chance to defeat your enemies?! Who slaughter your friends?"

Kanan's face fell. He exchanged a grim look with Ahsoka, who nodded. Sighing, he pulled out his comlink. "Chopper, we're staying for a while."

WAWAWA!

"Yeah! I know it's a bad idea! Just scan for incoming ships and keep The Phantom out of sight."

"Let me ask you something," Noelle spoke up. "And I mean Kanan and Ahsoka: how is this going to help us? We don't even know exactly why we were sent here!"

Kanan and Ahsoka exchanged a concerned look and there was a long moment of silence, until Kanan said. "I trust Master Yoda's judgement. If he thinks coming here to find out how to defeat our enemies will help, I believe him."

Noelle turned to Ahsoka, who slowly nodded in agreement with Kanan.

"What about you, Noelle?" she asked. "Do you trust Master Yoda?"

Noelle was silent for a moment. She was about to say yes, but before she even knew what she was saying, a very different answer rolled off her tongue.

"I don't know Ahsoka. I'm not sure I can trust anyone anymore."

"Do you trust me?"

Noelle's head turned sharply in surprise. She hadn't expected Ahsoka to ask her that, but she knew the answer.

"Yes."

Ahsoka gave her a slight smile and nodded. Noelle frowned after her as she followed Kanan, Ezra and Maul. It had been such an odd question. She also realized that she hadn't budged from the spot since Ahsoka had asked her the question.

"Noelle! Aren't you coming?" Ezra called.

Noelle clipped her lightsaber back on her belt and shook her head. "I think I had better not. It's a fool's errand. I'm sorry."

"Besides, someone has to keep watch anyways," she muttered under her breath.

Now to go find Chopper and The Phantom.

"WA WA WA!"

Noelle grinned. The orange astromech looked pleased to see her too. However, his tone was also worried. That was about the only thing Noelle could understand. She would never understand droid language as long as she was here.

She crossed the obsidian roof of the Sith Temple over to where The Phantom rested. It had taken quite a bit of time to get back up there on foot.

"Yes, I'm here Chopper. But they're still down there."

Chopper threw up his mechanical arms and groaned in exasperation.

Noelle shrugged. "I tried to tell them. Since when do they listen to me?"

"WAWAWA!"

Noelle took that as agreement, before Chopper grabbed her hand in his metal one and tried to drag her into The Phantom.

"What? What is it?!"

The sound hit her ears before the cold hit her heart.

The sharp whine of a TIE Fighter screeched through the air and Noelle and Chopper ducked into the shuttle. She glanced overhead. He was here.

Vader was here.

"We've gotta warn the others," Noelle whispered, more to herself than to Chopper. Quickly, she scrambled into the front seat, hoping that she would still be able to contact Kanan or Ahsoka.

"WAWAWA!"

"What?!"

"WAWAWA WA!" Chopper repeated more earnestly, pointing upward.

Noelle slowly glanced out the window. The TIE Fighter was circling back. They had been spotted. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed the controls and started the ship. "Buckle in!" she ordered the droid.

Chopper made an indignant noise and Noelle lurched forward.

Green laser bolts exploded onto the spot where they had been seconds before.

Anakin had once been the best star pilot in the galaxy. Vader was a force to be reckoned with.

Noelle took off into the atmosphere which was her only hope of cover. The planet of Malachor was dry and dusty and provided no concealment for someone trying to escape. She pushed the ship forward into the misty fog of the clouds, hoping to lose Vader.

"WAWAWA!"

Noelle gritted her teeth. She didn't understand exactly what Chopper had just said, but she had a good idea.

"Yes, I'm going back once we lose him!"

"WAWAWA." Chopper didn't sound like he believed her.

Noelle sighed. It wasn't like she cared what the droid thought. But Chopper was certainly right- they had to go back for the others with the shuttle. It was bad enough they were "teaming up" with Maul to face down three Inquisitors. And now Vader was here…

Suddenly, there was an explosion. A pink tunnel of light burst straight up into the sky. Noelle could just about see it from the front seat through the hazy clouds.

The force from the explosion rocked The Phantom, and Noelle gripped the handles of the controls as Chopper went flying backwards from not having been "buckled in."

Where on Malachor had that come from?

As Noelle regained control ofThe Phantom, she realized something else: Vader had stopped his chase. Whatever that "explosion" was must have drawn him away. Noelle doubted it had harmed him. After all, she and Chopper were ok.

"WAWAWAWA!"

"Yeah I think you're right- I think it's time to go back," Noelle breathed. She turned the shuttle around back in the direction they had come from. There was still no sign of Vader.

Electric pinkish-red light was radiating in a single beam from underneath the ground. There was only one place it could be coming from: the Sith Temple. Noelle felt her stomach knotted.

Oh Lord, she prayed, hoping God would listen, if He indeed had ever existed and was still there. This long adventure she had been on for the past six years had seriously given her so many doubts.

"WAWAWA," Chopper suggested.

"What?"

The droid pointed at the cracked hole in the obsidian ground that the four of them had fallen through earlier. Noelle saw what he was saying.

Lower the shuttle down there.

Noelle did exactly that and loweredThe Phantom down into the darkness. The only rays of illumination came from the light filtering in through the hole above them, and the light from the energy exploding out of the Sith Temple.

Noelle frowned. Why had the Temple suddenly given off this massive energy? It was almost like a laser beam… Then, it dawned on her.

The Temple was a weapon.

Panic rose inside of her and the need to get to her friends as soon as possible. The only place would be at the Temple itself. After all, how else had it been activated? And she also knew, if she had realized this, Vader would have too. He would be coming this way if he was not there already.

She began to circle around the pyramid, scanning for signs of life, when Chopper made a sound and turned on his comlink.

"Chopper! Am I glad to hear you!" It was Kanan. "We need a pickup."

"WAWAWA!"

"A TIE Fighter!? Are you sure?"

"Yes!" Noelle ripped the comlink out of Chopper's claw as he squealed in protest.

"It's Vader!" she cried hurriedly. "We need to leave now! Where are you?"

Noelle and Chopper found Kanan alone, kneeling bent over on one of the precipices of the pyramid. They landed and raced out to meet him.

Kanan's face was covered in some kind of mask- Noelle recognized it. It was one of the Jedi Temple Guards' face masks.

"Kanan! Are you ok? Why are you wearing that? Where is everyone else?" Noelle demanded all at once.

Kanan held up his right hand. "Noelle, please help me stand…"

Noelle leaned down and helped him to his feet. "What happened?"

"Maul.." Kanan started.

Noelle's face paled. "He blinded you-"

There was a moment of silence except for Chopper making a quiet, depressed sound.

"Where is Maul now?"

Kanan sighed. "I forced him off the edge. Can you help me get to Ezra and Ahsoka at the top of the Temple? We have to disable the Sith Holocron. This place is about to blow."

Noelle nodded. "Absolutely."

It took quite a bit of time for Noelle and Chopper to help Kanan up the stairs to the very top of the pyramid, but despite the fact he had just been blinded, he was not doing a terrible job at getting around.

When they reached the top, they saw Ezra reaching for the Holocron. After a burst of energy, Ezra went flying back. He groaned in frustration.

"It takes a Master and an Apprentice!" Kanan called to him.

Ezra turned around. "Kanan!" He raced over to them. "Wait what happened? Why are you wearing that?"

"I'll explain later. Chopper, get The Phantom ready. Ezra, help me to the Holocron." He extended his hand.

A look of sadness passed Ezra's face as he realized what it meant. "Kanan… your eyes…" he whispered.

"Let's worry about that later. We've got to get that Holocron outta here." Kanan said. Then he asked exactly what was on Noelle's mind. "Where's Ahsoka?"

Ezra's face fell and he sighed.

"With Vader."

Noelle could just about process that information. She closed her eyes, and to her own surprise instead of panic, she felt a bit of an eerie calm but also a sudden understanding.

"You are set on this confrontation then?"

"I have to know the truth."

"So be it, but much will change as a result of this encounter- including you."

Ahsoka would face her past, and so would Anakin. They would both change after finally confronting each other after sixteen years. Question was, would it be for the better or for the worse? And would Noelle ever see either of them again?

In her heart, she knew she needed to stop trying to change the inevitable, unless it wasn't inevitable for certain.

She knew who she had to face and get answers from before this place blew.

"I'll be right back," she said to Kanan and Ezra. "There's someoneI need to talk to."

Noelle gripped her lightsaber in hand and carefully trudged back down the steps of the pyramid and back to where The Phantom was parked. She knew he couldn't be far. Kanan had sent him off the edge, but he was a survivor.

She would find him.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped backwards about ten feet, then springing forward, she hurdled herself off the precipice of the ledge.

She embraced herself for impact, hitting the ground using the Force. As always, she felt the vibration ripple through her body, but she was unharmed. Behind her, she heard a loud sigh.

"Yes?"

Noelle turned around. She didn't turn on her saber yet, but she was getting ready to. She decided to ask her questions first. She tilted her head and looked him straight in the eyes.

"I have some questions Maul. There's some things I need to know before I let you leave."

Maul laughed. "Let me leave? And what makes you think you would be able to stop me?"

Noelle shrugged nonchalantly. "I can get in your way. I'm pretty good at that."

Maul growled. "You will not stand in my way of all people!" he ignited his lightsaber, prompting Noelle to turn on hers.

"What are you planning?" Noelle lowered her voice in annoyance. So much for cooperation. Not like she should have expected it. "What's 'the Endgame?'"

Maul began to slowly circle her as a lion stalking his prey, but Noelle couldn't even manage to feel unease. She stared him down.

"Are you so afraid of the knowledge I possess, padawan?" he sneered.

"I'm not afraid of what I can't change anymore, only of what I can. And for the record, I'm not a Padawan, nor even a Jedi."

Maul huffed and waved his lightsaber behind him. "Then who are you?"

Noelle didn't know the answer to that one yet.

Who was she?

She turned on her lightsaber at last. The blue light reflecting off her face in the darkness.

Not waiting for an answer, Maul ran at her, swinging the bottom blade of his double-bladed red lightsaber in an upwards motion towards her face. Unprepared, Noelle awkwardly blocked it, gritting her teeth together.

Then Maul did a one-hundred and eighty degree spin and kicked her in the right arm. The pain caused her lightsaber to go flying out of her hand.

She sensed a lightsaber blade coming towards her face and ducked out of the way.

"Weaponless now, aren't you?" Maul sneered.

He moved to attack her again and take advantage of her lost lightsaber, but holding both her hands forward, she Force-pushed him away from her. It was like a rush of wind flowing inside her, more powerful than she had ever felt before.

Maul staggered backwards in shock and surprise, and to Noelle's shock, instead of running at her again, he ranaway from her.

Didn't look like she was getting any of her questions answered today. Now to find her lightsaber.

Noelle looked frantically around. It was gone. She couldn't find her lightsaber anywhere. It must have fallen into a dark hole or off a ledge somewhere. She bit her lip in frustration. There was no time to look for it. She had to find everyone else and they had to leave this place as soon as possible.

She scrambled back upstairs to the top of the Temple.

Chopper was already sitting on the top of The Phantom, waving frantically to Kanan and Ezra. He hadn't seen Noelle yet.

"We're coming as fast as we can!" Ezra shouted at the droid. "Just be ready to- WHOA!"

Noelle frowned. But then she sensed his presence.

"Nonononono!"

Ezra was being dragged by an unseen force in the opposite direction.

"Kanan! It's him!"

"I know! I've got you!" Kanan held Ezra's arm tightly.

Noelle ran forward and grabbed Kanan's other arm. "It's me!" she breathed. "I've got you too!"

They were all ignoring the fact that the gate of the chamber for the Holocron was slowly closing in on them and they would be trapped.

Noelle could have sworn she saw two flickers of glowing white light behind Vader- and coming in fast.

She then heard Ahsoka scream and Vader cry out in pain as Kanan and Ezra slammed into her, having been released from Vader's Force grip.

Ezra helped his master to his feet. "Ahsoka!" he cried. "C'mon! Hurry!"

Ahsoka was still sprawled on the ground. Noelle painfully started to get up. She moved towards her friend. "Come on, Ahsoka! This place is about to blow and we'll be trapped!"

Ahsoka did hear Noelle's voice and moved to get to her feet- but so did the figure behind her.

"Ahsoka."

Ahsoka's blue eyes widened and met Noelle's.

They knew that voice. Noelle had already gone through the pain of hearing recently, but Ahsoka… she hadn't heard that voice in sixteen years.

The darkened figure of Vader was struggling to breathe, as Ahsoka had sliced off a piece of his mask. Apparently he relied on the mask to breathe…

Noelle saw him look up. His yellow eyes met those of his old Padawan.

"Ahsoka…"

He recognized her.

The faintest ghost of a smile was on Ahsoka's lips. "Anakin." Her voice was teetering between what sounded like maybe happiness and relief- but also something else.

Hope.

Vader got to his feet.

Noelle was practically standing inches away from the closing gate of the Temple. There wasn't much time left. Her hand reached for the lightsaber on her belt that wasn't there.

Vader and Ahsoka measured each other. Ahsoka hoping to find what little shreds of her old master might remain underneath that mask and suit- and Vader?

Noelle could feel the conflict within him.

Maybe he really wasn't completely gone.

"I won't leave you!" Ahsoka cried, her voice choked with emotion. "Not this time."

Holding her breath, Noelle stood motionless, waiting for Vader's response. First she could sense the internal conflict slowly dying out, then it was replaced by anger,and then pure hatred and rage.

"Then you willdie!"

The red blade of his lightsaber ignited. Vader moved towards his old apprentice.

"Ahsoka!" Noelle cried. She moved towards her blindly, but felt the Force push her flying backwards underneath the closing gate.

The last thing she saw was Ahsoka and Vader clashing blades in what would be a battle to the death.