Chapter 24.
POV: Anakin Skywalker
This is where I am supposed to be. This is where I was destined to train and… Qui Gon, he knew to bring me here. The Jedi denied me access to the teachings that would save the galaxy. They feared me, wanted to control me. And the same man that killed old master Qui Gon is here alongside the grey Jedi.
"I didn't intend to kill Master Jinn, but rather your Master, Skywalker," Maul's voice came from behind me as I turned to see him aided by Ahsoka.
I looked over Ahsoka's body. Is she the one I am supposed to protect? The voice was Ahsoka's, like the crystal when it spoke to me, but maybe it's supposed to be someone else.
"All this time, I've been lied to; used. The Jedi are corrupt. How do I stop all this? Bring balance to the galaxy and keep everything that I love?"
I stared deep into Ahsoka's eyes, hoping that she will not be hurt by what is yet to come.
"Skywalker, combine the holocrons with me, together we will figure out how to destroy the Sith and you will find out how to achieve what you desire".
The two grey Jedi sat and unified their force energies, focussing upon the two holocrons, one Jedi, one sith. The guardians of the temple returned to their posts allowing the Jedi privacy. Ahsoka stood by her Master's side connecting her own energy to Anakin's, gaining access to the answers he seeks, where Maul concentrated, skillfully manipulating the force, ascertaining the knowledge he desires.
'To stop the darkness once and for all… to bring balance to the galaxy… let the truth be seen'
Ahsoka could hear these phrases echo into the Force as the holocrons combined, a bright display of white light bursting to life, outshining all nearby illumination.
My heart sunk in my chest. It was betrayal of the highest order. Palpatine is the Sith Lord behind the Clone Wars and all the suffering he has caused Ahsoka. I have asked the force to heal her and so it will be done. For her to be healed, she must be the one to administer the final blow. Doing so it will bring balance to the galaxy and stop the clone wars. Everything within the Jedi Order was based off of fear. All decisions made amongst the council were made out of fear, fear of losing tradition, fear of losing themselves to the dark side. It's ironic, Master Yoda once said, 'fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering' and that is what they have done. The Jedi blindly followed every order without questioning the backbone of the order, to maintain peace. They are tainted by Palpatine's wrath. The Jedi cannot be allowed to continue like this, a new order must be born.
I felt Ahsoka's hand on my shoulder as I stood to my feet. Her small body embracing mine as she undoubtedly knows what must be done. I hugged her back, enjoying the brief moment of intimacy our relationship has been lacking.
"…impossible," I heard Maul whisper under his breath.
Ahsoka briefly asked for an explanation of his sudden burst of astonishment. He simply replied, "beyond the Clone Wars there is another Sith Lord. My old Master's Teacher".
Over the coming days, we devised and discussed plans in order to reach the inevitable goals we had both envisioned during the melding of the two holocrons.
Maul would use the full extent of the temple to draw out the Republic forces from Coruscant and attract the attention of Lord Tyrannus. Whilst myself and Ahsoka would infiltrate the Senate building and confront Chancellor Palpatine. The objective: eliminate. The temple guardians would continue to protect the temple, doing what is necessary to maintain it but they would not help Maul achieve what he is destined to do.
It wouldn't be hard to infiltrate the Senate and disable security. The problem would be defeating the Sith Lord that orchestrated the whole clone wars.
The galactic senate is corrupt, I was formerly known as Darth Maul, however, I am now known as Rahvin Takan, Grey Jedi. The chancellor is a Sith Lord and I am dispatching two grey Jedi to eliminate him. If the Separatist wish to know where I am, I am in the Malacore system planet V.
This message was posted to the Holonet. It would be enough to draw out a small portion of the republic and attract the attention of Lord Tyrannus. However, it still wouldn't be enough to completely distract republic forces away from Coruscant.
I stood overlooking the wasteland of Malacore V. Stone figures forever lost and forever incarcerated on the surface. It would soon become a battlefield, and perhaps it would become home to many more souls yet to come. The temple defence system was at full capacity after I finish confirming all of its functions. The temple guardians were loading our ship with ammunition that had been left dormant within the temple for years. They would finally be put to good use.
I sensed a mournful song within the force but it welcomed it with open arms. I shut myself off from the force mentally preparing myself.
"Ahsoka, have they finished loading the ship?" I asked, joining her side at the loading ramp.
She didn't look at me, just nodded her head in affirmation, "what do you think will happen to Obi wan?"
The question hung in the air. I had no answer for it and she knew it as well. Ahsoka was hurting but knows that this will bring balance back to the galaxy.
We said our farewell and asked the force to watch over Rahvin as the outboard systems alerted the temple of Separatist and Republic cruisers exiting hyperspace. Until the shadows align…
POV: Ahsoka Tano
We flew into the upper atmosphere of Coruscant, the Jedi Temple blinking on the radar. A communication frequency was intercepting the open channels in the ship. I looked at Anakin and he nodded. I answered the call.
"I know it's you Anakin, Ahsoka…"
Obi wan. Why did you have to be here?
"I'm not asking but requesting for the safety of the republic that you hand yourselves into the Jedi Temple for further questioning. We've seen the transmission circulating on the Holonet and ask that you help us".
Anakin raised an eyebrow almost rolling his eyes.
"Get out Obi wan, take care of Padme".
Anakin cut the transmission before putting the ship on autopilot, triggering the timer on the ammunition in the hangar. We climbed into our fighters with R7 and R2 secure in their designated positions of power, setting a course for the Senate Building.
Anakin and Ahsoka entered the Chancellors office without interruption, without triggering a single alarm or being caught by the senate guard. Re-emerging from being shadows of the Force they immediately leapt forward in an offensive manoeuvre. The Chancellor had his chair turned, facing the Coruscanti sky as Ahsoka dove for it, igniting her lightsabres, slicing the chair in two separate places, cutting it into thirds…no body fell the ground, only a cloaked figure propelling themselves across the room. It stood with two red blades bleeding from both sides of its body.
'now!' Ahsoka and Anakin jointly used to the force to pin the Sith Lord to the ground, connected and working together through mind and soul to defeat the insidious being before them.
Anakin would have his vengeance to save Ahsoka, no matter what it took, he would save her.
They stalked their opponent circling, keeping it pinned to the floor. The whole room began to quake from the pure power they were emitting. Without giving the Chancellor a chance to retaliate and regain his sense of space, Anakin took upon his training summoning force lightning.
The hood fell, and none other than Palpatine was left to cry out in pain.
"You don't understand! You were supposed to become my new apprentice!" he yelled through the pain, absorbing the energy Anakin was outputting, propelling it back at him as Ahsoka sprung forward, lightsabres drawn, giving Palpatine barley enough time to block her fast attack.
"You!" Palpatine yelled at Ahsoka as he struggled to hold off her attack, locked in a battle of strength, "If only you hadn't gotten in the way! I tried to get rid of you with Barriss but she failed!"
Ahsoka maintained her focus, using her anger towards Barriss to give her strength, forcing Palpatine to his knees. Anakin joined her attack, pressing the attack further. He allowed one of his blades to fall, combining his strength into one blade.
With one last effort, a wall of force energy hit Anakin and Ahsoka, sending them skidding backward on their feet. Ahsoka threw one of her lightsabres, guiding it with the force at the fleeing Sith, merely wounding the might of Darth Sidious as they raced after him.
An alarm was sounding as troopers raced through the Senate corridors but they weren't after the two grey Jedi and the sith lord. It was the nuclear warfare alarm. The blast shields of the Senate went up, isolating every room and every door and panel of glass. Troopers running towards the hanger to aid the attack. It was the perfect watering down of security allowing the death of a malicious tyrant.
Anakin summoned the force as they rounded the corner of the corridor, Palpatine without their sights as he lazily threw a bolt of lightning at them. Ahsoka easily deflected it as she ignited her blades, combining her force energy to Anakin's as she leapt with great intention, Anakin boosting her trajectory for the head of Darth Sidious. Her blades came across the shrink of his neck, slicing with ease.