I don't own Star Wars Rebels or its characters, but my OCs I own only.
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Sparks of Rebellion
Chapter 28: Twilight of the Apprentice Part 1
In Space...
The Phantom was travelling through hyperspace.
Inside the Phantom...
Ahsoka was talking to Rex via hologram.
"Once we drop out of hyperspace, we'll be going dark."Ahsoka admitted.
"Are you sure about this?"Rex asked.
"Yes."Ahsoka said.
"Ahsoka, you don't have to go to Malachor alone."Rex commented. "I could be there in two rotations."
"I'm not alone, Rex."Ahsoka assured.
"You know, I could have ordered you to take me along."Rex admitted.
"You don't exactly outrank me anymore."Ahsoka chuckled.
"In my book, experience outranks everything."Rex said.
"Hmm, then I definitely outrank you."Ahsoka said.
"May the Force be with you."Rex stated firmly.
Ahsoka nodded and the hologram of Rex went off.
Ahsoka went to Ezra, Lisa, Kanan and Ferus.
"Why is Rex so worried?"Ezra asked. "Uh, what does he know that I don't?"
"Malachor has always been off-limits to Jedi."Kanan responded.
"Why?"Ezra questioned.
"Old legends."Kanan stated. "Stories told to us as younglings in the temple."
"Not to mention, it's dangerous."Ferus said with a frown.
"There's always a bit of truth in legends."Ahsoka complemented.
"If Malachor is off limits, why would Master Yoda send us here?"Lisa asked.
The Phantom jumped out of hyperspace and arrived to a dark grey planet, which was Malachor.
"I don't know, but I trust Master Yoda."Kanan admitted. "There's something here for us."
"Yeah, something to help us stop the Inquisitors."Ezra agreed.
"Knowledge."Ahsoka answered softly.
Ezra and Lisa looked at each other.
Chopper beeped at the jedi.
"A ship?"Ezra asked. "What type?"
Chopper beeped through the comlink.
Ezra sighed. "He can't tell."
"Track it, let's see who else is interested in this place."Kanan complemented.
"Whoa, look, up ahead."Ezra remarked. "What is that?"
The five jedi saw the surface of Malachor resembled an ocean of liquid carbonate that had flash-frozen.
There were small, pyramidal, solid stone foothills were located equidistant from each other on the surface of the planet.
Along Malachor's central latitude was a large crater ringed by narrow spires.
"I don't know, but the ship we're tracking went there."Kanan said. "I'm gonna set her down."
The Phantom landed on Malachor and the five jedi walked out.
"This place is like a frozen wasteland."Lisa replied while rubbing her arms.
"I don't see any ship."Ezra said.
"It's gotta be around here somewhere."Kanan suggested and looked at Chopper. "Chopper, try to get a fix on its location."
Chopper beeped at Kanan.
Ahsoka, Ferus, Kanan, Ezra and Lisa walked up to the large monoliths.
"What are these things?"Ezra asked.
"This writing, it's in the old tongue."Ahsoka said.
"An ancient script by practitioners of the Force, both light and dark, long before the Empire."Ferus admitted.
"Can you read it?"Kanan asked.
"I think I can."Ferus suggested. "It might an old form, but I can make out a few words."
Ferus began reading the writing that was in ancient language as Ezra reached out his hand to touch the monolith.
"No!"Ahsoka protested. "Ezra, don't!"
Despite Tano's orders, a mesmerised Ezra touched the monolith causing the group to fall through a cavern and drop on the ground.
"Nice going, genius."Lisa scowled bitterly.
"I didn't know, we would fall off!"Ezra reminded and notice a massive pyramid structure in front of them. "What is that?"
"A Sith temple."Ahsoka replied grimly.
Lisa paled. "Oh my gosh..."
The jedi stared at the massive structure with concern and fear.
"Let's keep going."Ferus suggested calmly.
The group began walking towards the temple.
Lisa notice the ceiling looked like a starry night sky which was the only thing in the underground that wasn't that creepy.
Chopper beeped on Ezra's comlink.
"Oh, we might fall through the surface?"Ezra asked sarcastically. "Thanks for the warning, Chop."
"Any fix on that ship yet?"Kanan asked on his comlink.
Chopper grunted in respond.
"He's picked up the trail."Kanan responded. "This way."
"I bet whatever we're looking for is inside that Temple."Ezra commented.
"Seems likely."Kanan agreed. "Just remember, if there's a ship, we're not alone down here."
"Ahsoka, you said we're here to find knowledge."Ezra said. "What kind of knowledge?"
"The forbidden kind."Ahsoka answered. "To defeat your enemy, you have to understand them."
Unsure looks grew on Ezra and Lisa's faces.
"No better place to learn about the Sith, I guess."Kanan stated.
The jedi continued walking in the ruins of temple.
Ferus felt they were being watched, but then his suspicion went away.
The group stumble upon an old battlefield littered with fallen lightsabers and the statue-like remains of long-dead combatants.
"The ground looks scorched."Ezra said and notice an old lightsaber on the floor. "Whoa, Kanan! Look, a lightsaber. And another."
"There are so many of them."Lisa complemented.
The lightsaber that Ezra picked up was green and the one Lisa picked was purple.
But then the old lightsabers immediately turned off.
Kanan bend down to look at a sculpture.
"This was a battlefield."Kanan said.
"What happened here?"Ezra asked.
"It looks like at one time, thousands of years ago, jedi knights attacked the temple."Ahsoka explained.
"And the jedi won, right?"Ezra asked.
"From what I can tell, nobody won."Ahsoka commented.
"Actually a dark lord of the sith known as Darth Nihilus was on the planet of Malachor V during the final battle of the war that was many years ago when jedi general Meetra Surik gave the order to activate the Republic's mass shadow generator super weapon."Ferus stated with a frown. "The generator killed almost everyone on the planet's surface and in orbit nearby except him."
"How do you know about that, dad?"Lisa asked in surprise.
"By an old friend of mine."Ferus answered with a hint of sadness.
"I hate to break up this history lesson, but we should keep moving."Kanan reminded.
The five jedi continued walking towards the temple.
"Well, if you ask me, this whole planet is a riddle."Ezra admitted.
"So if it's a riddle, what's the question?"Kanan questioned.
"Why is Kanan such a...get down!"Ezra shouted.
A figure charged at them and Ezra ignited his lightsaber in self-defense.
The armored figure then ignites his own red double-bladed lightsaber, revealing himself as an Inquisitor known as the Eighth Brother.
Kanan, Ahsoka, Ferus and Lisa activated their lightsabers.
"Five Jedi?"the Eighth Brother said.
"An Inquisitor!"Ezra scowled.
The Eighth Brother back away and hurled explosives at the five jedi.
"Take cover!"Ahsoka shouted.
The explosives destroyed the ground beneath sending Ezra and Lisa causing them to fall through into an underground tunnel, separating them from their companions.
"Kanan!"Ezra shouted.
"Dad!"Lisa screamed. "Ahsoka!"
"Lisa!"Ferus called out.
"Ezra, Lisa, can you two hear me?"Kanan asked.
Ezra and Lisa stood up from the ground, they fell on.
"We're okay!"Ezra responded.
Lisa groaned and rubbed her head.
The Eight Brother ran away from the jedi.
"He's getting away, let's go!"Ahsoka protested.
"We can't leave them here!"Ferus snapped.
"Don't worry about us, dad, we'll catch up!"Lisa assured.
Ahsoka, Ferus and Kanan began following after the Eighth Brother.
Below...
Sure, we'll catch up."Ezra said sarcastically. "Soon as we figure out where we are."
"Oh calm down, I've happened to be in situations more worse than this."Lisa retorted.
"I know where you are."An old man's voice said and chuckled. "You're with me."
Ezra and Lisa activated their lightsabers while glaring at the hooded figure.
"Please put your weapon away."the old man begged. "I-I mean you no harm."
"Stay back!"Ezra warned. "I'm warning you, old man."
"Forgive me, it it's just, I've been alone so long."the old man stated. "It's been years since I've spoken to anyone."
"You live here alone?"Lisa questioned. "In the dark of a sith temple?"
"Not by choice. My ship crashed."the old man replied. "I'm trapped, marooned. I've had to scrounge and scrape to survive."
"Look, I'm sorry."Lisa replied. "I wish we could help you, but we have to get back to our friends."
"Well, perhaps I could help you."the old man suggested.
Ezra scoffed. "I doubt that."
"Why are you here?"the old man asked.
"We're not gonna tell you that."Ezra answered
"You came for the same reason I did, years ago."the old man said. "You seek knowledge."
Ezra and Lisa glanced at the old man.
"It's inside the temple, isn't it?"Lisa asked.
"Yes."the old man said. "And I know the secret way to get inside, but, but I'm too old. I-I-I need help to open the door."
"What's inside?"Ezra asked.
"Help me and find out."the old man admitted.
Ezra and Lisa slid down to go next to the old man.
"Show us this doorway."Ezra stated.
"Please, this way."the old man instructed.
"You first."Lisa commented with a small glare.
"Do you not trust me?"the old man asked.
"We don't know you."Ezra retorted.
"W-Well, then let's change that."the old man said. "Call me Old Master. And you two?"
"Call me Jabba."Ezra responded.
"You can call me, Crystal."Lisa added.
"Hmm...come then, Jabba and Crystal."the old man said.
Ezra and Lisa began following the old man in the underground of Malachor.
Back on the Surface...
Ahsoka, Ferus and Kanan were chasing after the Eighth Brother.
"I've never had an Inquisitor run from me before."Kanan said.
"Maybe it's because he's outnumbered."Ahsoka suggested.
"He did seem surprised."Kanan commented. "I don't think he was looking for us."
"Then who is he tracking?"Ahsoka asked and deactivated her lightsabers.
"Either way, we can't let him get away."Ferus stated firmly.
The three adults stopped running.
Chopper beeped on Kanan's comlink.
"You found the ship?"Kanan asked. "Where?"
Chopper beeped a respond.
"No, no, forget it, no time!"Kanan argued. "Get over there and find that ship. Do not let him take off! We'll follow your signal."
Ahsoka, Ferus and Kanan activated their lightsabers before they started running again.
Chopper let out a frustrated grunt.
"No, disobeying me is gonna be dangerous."Kanan snapped. "Now get going!"
Below...
Ezra and Lisa used their lightsabers to bring some light in the ruins as they followed the old man.
"How much further?"Ezra questioned.
"This door better be close."Lisa stated.
"You worry about your friends?"the old man asked.
"They need our help."Ezra commented.
"Yes and with good reason."the old man said. "The Inquisitor is powerful."
"Wait, you know about the Inquisitor?"Ezra asked.
"He is my enemy."the old man replied. "All Inquisitors and their masters are my enemies."
"Were you a Jedi?"Ezra asked.
"Uh, no, no, no."the old man answered. "But I was once a Force-wielder, long ago. Long, long ago."
Ezra and Lisa glared at the old man.
"Then you're a Sith?"Lisa said bitterly.
"The Sith...the Sith took everything from me."the old man said angrily. "Ripped me from my mother's arms, murdered my brother, used me as a weapon and then cast me aside. Abandoned me. Once, I had power, now I have nothing. Nothing."
"I know how you feel."Ezra stated with a hint of anger. "The Empire, it took away my home and my mother and my father."
Lisa stared at Ezra in sadness.
"I lost my mother when the Empire rose to power and I wasn't even a week old."Lisa admitted with a frown.
"And you want revenge?"the old man asked.
"I want justice!"Ezra answered.
"Same with me."Lisa agreed.
"Yes, yes and you both shall have it, for I have discovered the key."the old man replied.
"The key to what?"Ezra asked.
"The key to destroying the Sith and put an end to the injustice of the Empire."the old man responded.
"Hold on, the knowledge is inside the temple?"Lisa asked in surprise.
"Yes, that temple holds secrets of the Sith, secrets that have been buried with the dead for thousands of years."the old man explained.
"And you'll share this knowledge with us?"Ezra asked.
"Yes."the old man vowed. "Yes, of course."
Ezra and Lisa began going up the stairs with the old man following from behind.
Then the three arrived at the temple.
"Whoa."Ezra said in awe.
"A place of worship for some."the old man said. "To others, an engine of destruction. But at its heart, our prize."
"How do we get inside?"Lisa asked.
"Two must lift these stones."the old man instructed. "No more, no less. That is the way of the Sith."
"You seem to know an awful lot about them."Ezra stated.
"To defeat your enemy, you must know your enemy."the old man admitted. "Even practice their beliefs."
"My master taught me, we shouldn't never practice the beliefs."Lisa said. "That would've lead me completely to the dark side."
"Yeah, my master wouldn't approve of that last part either."Ezra agreed.
"Then he is doomed to fail."the old man sighed. "Now, young Jedi, help me."
Ezra and Lisa reached out their hands to help the old man lift up the door.
"I can't."Ezra grunted. "It's too heavy."
"Your anger is a wellspring."the old man instructed. "You must use it."
"But a Jedi is never supposed to act out of emotion."Ezra stated.
"Your passions give you strength and through strength, you gain power."the old man explained. "You have seen it. You feel it. You must break your chains."
Ezra and Lisa began to give in their emotions causing the wall to slowly lift up.
"Yes."the old man said. "Use your power."
Using their anger, Ezra, Lisa and the Old Master were able to open the temple's first door.
However, they find that the temple has a row of stone doors.
"A dead end!"Ezra scowled.
"Focus!"the old man instructed.
The trio went inside the entrance and went to the next door.
"Now what do we do?"Lisa questioned.
"Release the one behind you."the old man instructed.
Ezra and Lisa released the other door causing it to close behind them.
"How many of these things are there?"Ezra groaned.
Ezra, Lisa and the Old Master lifted up the rest of the doors.
Ezra coughed while Lisa sighed in relief and exhaustion.
"Unless you take risks, do what must be done, there will always be limits to your abilities. Seize the knowledge. Seize the power."the old man stated. "Do not become like me, Jabba, Crystal."
"My name's Ezra."Ezra replied. "My real name."
"And my real name is Lisa."Lisa answered.
"Real name? Yes, I once had a real name. So long ago, I don't remember."the old man said and lifted down his hood revealing his face. "Now, now I am called Maul."
Back in the Surface...
Kanan, Ferus and Ahsoka interrogate the captured Eighth Brother while Chopper watched.
"You're the fourth Inquisitor we've seen."Kanan said. "How many are there?"
"More than enough for the three of you."Eighth Brother replied.
"Does that include the grand inquisitor that is now dead?"Ferus questioned sarcastically.
Eighth Brother scoffed before looking at Ferus and Ahsoka.
"Nothing can save the two of you."Eighth Brother scowled.
Ferus and Ahsoka looked at each other in concern.
"Why are you on Malachor?"Kanan questioned.
"Hunting."Eighth Brother responded.
"But you were not expecting us."Ahsoka stated. "Who are you after?"
Eighth Brother chuckled. "A shadow."
Meanwhile...
Maul leads Ezra and Lisa to the center of the temple where they see a Sith holocron resting on an altar.
"Behold the key."Maul commented.
"It's a holocron."Ezra said.
"You know of them?"Maul asked.
"Yeah."Ezra responded. "My master has one, but it's different."
"So does mine though it's not like that one."Lisa complemented.
"Because this is a Sith holocron, one that holds all their secrets."Maul said.
"Well, how do we get to it?"Ezra asked.
"It is a test."Maul stated. "Only someone with the courage to risk oblivion is worthy to claim it."
Lisa used her foot to kick a small rock at the bottomless black pit, but there wasn't a sound of a thud.
"Throw me."Ezra suggested.
"Huh?"Lisa said in disbelief.
"Yeah, throw me."Ezra admitted. "I'll jump and then you use The Force to throw me. My master and I do it all the time. Well, a few times anyway. Look, we can do this."
"Are you sure about this, Ezra?"Lisa asked in concern.
"Absolutely."Ezra assured.
Lisa nodded at Ezra.
Ezra went backward and then rushed forward.
Then Lisa and Maul throws Ezra towards the altar using the Force.
Lisa sighed in relief that her friend has landed safely.
Ezra managed to reach the Sith holocron but the ground began to shake as the temple started to open up.
Back in the Surface...
Kanan, Ferus and Lisa approached the temple with the captive Eighth Brother where they see it opening.
While distracted, the Inquisitor takes the opportunity to use his wrist communicator to contact the other Inquisitors.
"We need to find Ezra and Lisa quickly."Ferus commented.
"Get back to the Phantom and get ready to leave."Kanan ordered.
Chopper beeped and flew away.
Ahsoka shoved the Eighth Brother forward.
"Come on, let's take a walk."Ahsoka retorted.
The three jedi and the Eighth Brother began to head to the other side.
Back at the Altar...
The area of the temple that Ezra was began to go up with purple electricity surrounding it.
"Jump!"Maul shouted.
"I won't make it!"Ezra called out.
"Ezra, there is no time!"Lisa protested. "You can do it!"
"I-I can't!"Ezra denied.
"Trust me!"Maul said.
"We'll catch you!"Lisa assured.
Lisa and Maul used the force to bring Ezra to their side.
Maul grabbed Ezra's hand that contained the sith holocron.
Just as Lisa was about to take out her lightsaber, Maul brought Ezra to safety.
"There was nothing to fear."Maul said. "You were wise to trust me."
Lisa stared at Maul with a glare of suspicion.
Ezra and Lisa stood with each other as they followed Maul.
"Thanks by the way."Ezra said.
"Your welcome."Lisa answered simply with a small wink.
At the Other Side...
Kanan, Ferus, Ahsoka and Eighth Brother arrived in front of an entrance that was closed.
"They're inside, I know it."Kanan said. "But there's no way they lifted that door."
"There is no way a jedi would open this door."Ferus complemented with a hint of worry.
"They must've got help from someone."Ahsoka stated with a frown.
The Eighth Brother started chuckling.
"What's so funny?"Kanan questioned.
Chopper grunted through Kanan's comlink.
"What is it, Chopper?"Kanan asked.
Chopper beeped a respond.
"What do you mean we've got company?"Kanan demanded.
Eighth Brother began to laugh even more.
"Hey, what are you laughing at?"Kanan questioned.
"That's why!"Ferus scowled.
The jedi spotted the Fifth Brother and the Seventh Sister arriving with their red-bladed spinning lightsabers and free the Eighth Brother.
Ahsoka, Ferus and Kanan activated their lightsabers.
Together, the three Inquisitors attacked Kanan, Ferus and Ahsoka.
"An excellent day's hunt."Seventh Sister said in amusement.
Maul lead Ezra and Lisa to an entrance.
"How do you open this?"Ezra asked.
"One must be a Sith or think like one. But it has...other uses."Maul stated. "Give it to me. I will show you."
Ezra hands Maul the sith holocron.
Maul placed the sith holocron into a slot on the wall and pressed it in.
"Sith holocrons are keys that can open many doors."Maul explained and hands the holocron back to Ezra.
Ezra and Lisa looked at each other as the door opened, revealing the way out.
Lisa and Ezra quickly activated their lightsabers when they saw their friends fighting the inquisitors.
The two young teenagers rushed forward.
"Ezra?"Kanan asked.
"Lisa."Ferus said in relief.
"Kanan, Ferus, Ahsoka!"Ezra shouted. "We brought help."
Kanan, Ferus, Ahsoka and the inquisitors notice Maul standing behind the closing entrance.
"Maul."Ahsoka said in surprise.
"The Shadow."Eighth Brother stated.
"What fun."Maul chuckled and then laughed in amusement. "What fun!"
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter