While the three force users enter the Phantom, they don't notice as Vex turns himself into particles, boarding the Phantom without their knowing. They take off and as soon as they are clear of the planet, jump to Hyperspace, with Ahsoka opening a call with Rex just before arrival.
"As soon as we drop out of Hyperspace, we'll be going dark. Whatever you need to say, say it now." She warns.
"You sure about this?" He asks immediately.
"Positive." She assures.
"Ahsoka, you don't have to go to Malachor alone. I can be there in two rotations after you arrive." Rex argues.
"I'm not alone." The way she says it, makes Vex smile, her little nod to the fact she knew he was with them, and that he would help her when she needed it.
"You know, i could have ordered you to take me along." Rex remarks.
"You don't exactly outrank me anymore." Ahsoka retorts with a smile.
"In my book, experience, outranks everything." He reminds.
"Then I definitely outrank you." Ahsoka chuckles, Rex laughing as well, before his expression turns somber.
"May the Force be with you." He wishes her well, her nod all he needs before the call is disconnected.
"Why is Rex so worried? What does he know that I don't?" Ezra asks, his curiosity shining bright.
"Malachor has always been off-limits to Jedi." Kanan informs him.
"Why?" Ezra questions further.
"Old legends." Kanan sighs. "Stories told to us as younglings in the Temple."
"There is always a bit of truth in legends." Ahsoka notes.
"If Malachor is off-limits, why would Master Yoda send us here?" Ezra then asks. The colours of Hyperspace disperse, revealing the barren, dead planet before them.
"I don't know. But i trust Master Yoda. There's something here for us." Kanan answers.
"Something to help us stop the Inquisitors." Ezra states, hope in his voice.
"Knowledge." Ahsoka affirms. Kanan sends the Phantom into the atmosphere, when Chopper warbles to them.
"A ship? What type?" Ezra questions, his question answered with a 'can't tell'.
"Track it. Let's see who else is interested in this place." Kanan orders the astromech, while he continues to descend. As they break through the cloud, Ezra immediately notices something.
"Woah. Look up ahead. What is that?" The area mentioned is a crater, covered in a dark material, with pillars protruding from below.
"I'm not sure. The ship we're tracking went there, though. I'm gonna set her down so we can get a closer look." Kanan responds, landing the Phantom with practiced ease. As the hatch opens, Vex's particles fly out, invisible to the others, but he leaves one, attached to Ahsoka, to keep a better track of them, to be able to know what happens.
"I don't see any ship." Ezra states obviously, as they walk out.
"It's gotta be around here somewhere." Kanan assures. "Chopper, try to get a fix on it's location." The astromech warbles an affirmative, using a claw to salute. The trio walk towards a pillar, the darkness rolling off of it in waves.
"What are these things?" Ezra questions.
"This writing – it's in the old tongue." Ahsoka notes, looking closely at the etched markings.
"Can you read it?" Kanan asks.
"I can try. It's a very old form. I can only make out a few words." She replies with a sigh, and begins to translate it. Ezra, the Force calling to him, as it also calls to Vex, the dark whispers urging them closer, places his hand on the monolith-like stone. "No! Ezra, don't!" Ahsoka tries to warn, but too late, as they all fall through the top layer of the area, landing in the remains of a battlefield. Ezra, who regains himself second, notices a large structure before them.
"What is that?" He asks in wonder.
"A Sith Temple." Ahsoka, already recovered, having turned the fall into a controlled tumble, answers bitterly, glancing back, before returning her gaze at the structure in question. Ezra, and Kanan, step just behind her. The light that shines through cracks and holes in the upper layer, giving a darker edge to the surrounding area. With nowhere else to go, they make their way towards the Temple, when Chopper warbles through the comms.
"Oh, we might fall through the surface? Thanks for the warning, Chop." Ezra retorts in irritation, yet humour.
"Any fix on that ship yet?" Kanan asks, and is answered with an affirmative. "Well, he picked up the trail. This way." Kanan informs us, and we follow his lead.
"I bet whatever we're looking for is inside that temple." Ezra gambles.
"Seems likely. Just remember, if there's a ship, we're not alone down here." Kanan warns.
"Ahsoka, you said we're here to find knowledge. What kind of knowledge?" Ezra then asks.
"The forbidden kind. To defeat your enemy, you have to understand them." She explains solemnly.
"No better place to learn about the Sith, I guess." Kanan remarks. As they move on, they fail to notice the dark presence that follows them.
"The ground looks scorched." Ezra notes with worry. "Whoa, Kanan! Look, a lightsaber." He kneels down, picking the saber up, revealing a cross guard hilt. "And another..." He trails off, as the number of sabers increases. He ignites the saber, for its green blade to emerge momentarily, before spluttering out, broken and no longer working. He puts the saber back on the ground.
"This was a battlefield." Kanan realizes with shock, and sorrow.
"What happened here?" Ezra wonders aloud.
"It looks like, at one time, thousands of years ago, Jedi Knights attacked the Temple." Ahsoka explains, gesturing to everything around them.
"And the Jedi won, right?" Ezra asks in expectant hope.
"From what remains, nobody won." Ahsoka answers darkly.
"Hate to break up this history lesson, but we should keep moving." Kanan retorts, urging them onward.
"Well, if you ask me, this whole planet is a riddle." Ezra admits.
"So if it's a riddle, what's the question?" Kanan asks.
"Why is Kanan such a-" Ezra stops as he sees movement, and his instincts blare. "Get down!" He yells, as an Inquisitor, hiding in the remains, shows himself, his gyro-spinning lightsaber ignited. Ezra shoves Kanan out of the way, his own saber up, blocking the strike, before the Inquisitor leaps back to assess, when Kanan and Ahsoka ignite their blades.
"Three Jedi?" The Inquisitor wonders aloud, showing his surprise.
"An Inquisitor." Ezra notes. He takes the lead of the charge, when the Inquisitor leaps up, tossing small projectiles towards them.
"Take cover!" Ahsoka's battle awareness kicks in, as she drags Kanan back, while Ezra, too far ahead, tries to use a petrified corpse as cover. His attempt is unsuccessful, as the projectiles detonate, and he is dropped down another floor.
"Kanan!" He shouts in fear.
"Ezra!" Kanan returns, dashing to the hole in the ground, where Ezra lay, already picking himself back up.
"Ezra! Ezra, can you hear me?" Kanan asks in worry.
"I'm okay." Ezra replies, rubbing his head.
"He's getting away, let's go!" Ahsoka urges.
"Don't worry about me, I'll catch up!" Ezra assures us, and Kanan reluctantly catches up to Ahsoka, as they give chase.
"I've never had an Inquisitor run from me before." Kanan notes, as we give chase.
"Maybe it's because he's outnumbered." Ahsoka mused.
"He did seem surprised." Kanan admits. "I don't think he was looking for us." Ahsoka deactivates her sabers, stopping.
"Then who is he tracking?" Ahsoka questions with concern. Kanan stops as well, his own saber deactivating, when Chopper warbles through the comms again.
"You found the ship? Where?" Kanan asks, the response troubling him. "No, no. Forget it, no time! Get over there and find that ship. Do not let him take off! We'll follow your signal." Kanan orders, both he and Ahsoka igniting their blades and continuing the chase, to which Chopper warbles in reply. "No, disobeying me is dangerous. Now get going!" He replies.
By the time they catch up, Chopper had already taken control of the TIE Fighter, bearing it's weapons against it's owner, the power behind each blast more than the Inquisitor could bear, as their weapon is knocked out of their grasp, allowing Kanan and Ahsoka to cuff him, taking him prisoner.
"You're the fourth Inquisitor we've seen. How many of you are there?" Kanan asks.
"More than enough for the two of you." The Inquisitor retorts. "Nothing can save you."
"Why are you on Malachor?" Kanan then questions.
"Hunting." The Inquisitor answers.
"But you were not expecting us. Who are you after?" Ahsoka questions further.
"A shadow." The Inquisitor chuckles. As though his words decreed it, the Temple powers up, red writings glowed on the once inactive pillars, the top part of the Temple opening in a welcome.
"We need to find Ezra." Ahsoka declares.
"Get back to the Phantom and get ready to leave." Kanan orders Chopper, who once more, salutes, before following the order. Kanan and Ahsoka drag the Inquisitor along, as they make their way closer to the now active Temple, the Dark Side thrumming in happiness, and strength. As they arrive at a closed entrance, Kanan sighs in frustration.
"Why do I know Ezra is involved in this somehow?" Kanan asks rhetorically, walking closer to the doorway. "He's inside, i know it. But there's no way he lifted that door."
"Not without help." Ahsoka agrees, concerned etched upon her face. The Inquisitor begins to laugh, as Chopper once more, warbles through the comms.
"What is it, Chopper?" Kanan asks in frustration, the answer confusing him. "What do you mean, we've got company?" The Inquisitor laughs louder. Before Kanan can ask why they are laughing, the whir of sabers catches their attention, as two Inquisitors fly in, their sabers acting as propellers.
Kanan and Ahsoka ignite their weapons, and face off against the Fifth Brother, as the Seventh Sister lands behind them, freeing their captive, who calls their weapon back.
"An excellent day's hunt." The Seventh Sister declares, launching at them, her 'siblings' following suit, as Ahsoka and Kanan are pushed on the defensive. The rumble of the door opening catches everyone's attention, as Ezra runs out, saber ignited. Kanan notices him first.
"Kanan! Ahsoka! I brought help." He says, gesturing behind him. Ahsoka and Kanan look to him, shock on their face.
"Maul." Ahsoka gasps.
"The Shadow." The newly discovered Inquisitor states in fear.
"What fun." Maul states, before laughing maniacally. "What fun." He repeats, walking towards the group of Force Users, glee written across his face.
"So, the rumours are true. Darth Maul lives." The Seventh Sister notes, spinning her lightsaber in interest.
"Formerly Darth, now just Maul." He corrects.
"Ezra, step away from him!" Kanan warns.
"Kanan, I swear he's on our side!" Ezra argues.
"Perhaps my actions will speak louder than words." Maul declares, detaching his lightsaber from his cane, and igniting it, before leaping into battle, effectively challenging all three Inquisitors with ease.
"What are we waiting for?" Ezra asks, igniting his saber. Maul fights aggressively, using his entire body as a weapon. As he locks blades with the Seventh Sister, she speaks.
"Why would you come here?" She asks.
"He knows of the artefact!" The Fifth Brother correctly assumes. He attempts to cut Maul down from the side, only for Kanan to block the strike. The Eighth Brother then attempts to strike from the other side, but is blocked by Ahsoka.
"The Holocron, do you have it?" The Eighth Brother asks.
"You will find out soon enough." Maul answers, and the Inquisitors break off from their blade locks.
"Fall back!" The Seventh Sister orders, and the three Inquisitors take flight, retreating.
"Maul, what game are you playing?" Ahsoka asks, as the trio walk closer to him.
"The end game, Lady Tano." Maul tosses his cane to the ground, discarding it. "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." Maul warns.
"How do you know this?" Kanan asks.
"His dogs will tell him where we are. Two Jedi and a… part timer. Oh, he will come. He will not be able to resist us." Maul states.
"Okay, hold on, there is no 'us.' And dealing with Inquisitors is one thing, Vader is another. And I'm not convinced we're all on the same side anyway." Kanan argues.
"Kanan, we should trust him." Ezra defends Maul, taking out the Sith Holocron to show. "We took this from the Temple together! That's why we came here, right? To find out about the Sith. To find a way to beat them. Ahsoka, you said we came here for knowledge." He protests.
"Ezra, there is no way a Jedi can unlock that Holocron." Ahsoka denies.
"But you may unlock the Temple itself." Maul offers.
"How? Tell me how?" Ezra asks, too eager.
"At the top of the Temple is a chamber. Connect the Holocron to the Obelisk within and you can unlock the ancient knowledge of the Sith." Maul entices him.
"Why are you working so hard to keep us here?" Ahsoka asks.
"I cannot defeat Vader alone." Maul admits.
"I say we stay with him." Ezra states, worry etching onto my face.
"Yeah? Well i say we go. So that settles it." Kanan retorts in irritation.
"Are you such cowards that you would run at the chance top defeat your enemies?" Maul asks in distaste. "Who slaughter your friends?"
"Kanan?" Ezra asks, his expression pleading with him. He looks to Ahsoka, who nods stiffly. He sighs, grabbing his comlink.
"Chopper. We're staying for a while." The astromech's retort is short and frustrated. "Yeah, I know it's a bad idea. Just scan for incoming ships and keep the Phantom out of sight."
"Oh, how exciting. We're all on the same side." Maul states half sarcastically.
"Just show us how to get to the top." Kanan demands. "And hurry."
"This way." Maul leads. As they reach a corner of the Temple, Kanan looks to Maul.
"Now what?" He asks bitterly. Maul places his palm on the wall, activating the corner side elevator, which lowers to let them on. Ezra steps on, with Maul beside him. Kanan goes to step on, but Maul stops him.
"Only two. No more no less." He notes.
"Yeah?" Kanan asks, shoving Maul off. "Well these two come as a set." He then turns to Ahsoka. "You okay riding with Grandpa?"
"I'll be fine." Ahsoka assures. Maul activates the lift, sending the two Jedi up, leaving Maul and Ahsoka, with Vex, who pieces himself together, once sure neither Kanan nor Ezra could see him.
"Oh, i should have known you would be around. You never do leave your lovers side." Maul notes with a sigh.
"Not if i can help it." Vex smirks, before he returns solemn. "Just don't inform Ezra or Kanan."
"Now, why would i tell them of your presence?" Maul asks, earning a glare that promises a painful end. "Fine, fine. I won't tell them." He sighs. The sound of clashing sabers has all of them looking up, with Maul swiftly bringing the Elevator back down, before he and Ahsoka step on, the Temple sending them up, as Vex once more returns to particles. "Ezra!" Maul shouts in concern, as he reaches the top. Ahsoka rushes to Kanan, helping him up, while Maul sends the Inquisitor away, helping Ezra back up. With everyone standing and alert, they notice the two flying Inquisitors that go around the Temple.
"Looks like they figured out your plan." Kanan notes, facing Maul.
"Then we shall alter it." Maul retorts. "I recommend that we split up. Scale the Pyramid from two sides. They, will also have to divide their forces."
"And let me guess. Ezra goes with you? No thanks." Kanan declines.
"It is the logical choice." Maul notes with a small smile.
"I agree with Maul. Trust me, Kanan." Ezra pleads. Kanan sighs, already foreseeing a bad situation, but relents.
"Excellent. Excellent." Maul and Ezra step on the next elevator. "You will find another lift on the far side. We will meet again on the next terrace." He explains, taking himself and Ezra up.
"He'll be fine." Ahsoka assures him.
"Yeah? How do you know?" Kanan asks.
"Because, you taught him." She answers. Kanan smiles, but still holds some doubt, as he follows Ahsoka, as they move to the other elevator, rising quickly, when they hear the sound of battle.
"That doesn't sound good." Kanan notes.
"Look out!" Ahsoka warns, noticing the Inquisitor behind them, ready to cut Kanan in half. He ducks, the red blade barely passing over his head. The elevator begins to descend, and he grabs on to the edge, while Ahsoka leaps up, taking the Fifth Brother's attention. Kanan gets himself up, and tries to help out, when the newest Inquisitor flies up, taking his attention.
As they fight, each busy with their opponent, a familiar chill has them all back up from each other, as Maul leaps down, furiously attacking the Fifth Brother, leaving Ahsoka an opening as she slices through his weapon, before Maul finishes him off. Kanan, alone, manages to slice through the other Inquisitor's weapon. He tries to fly away, but his weapon destroys itself, and he is dropped down the Temple, the fall killing him instantly.
"Where's Ezra?" Kanan asks, turning to Maul.
"You mean, my Apprentice?" Maul asks, Ahsoka and Kanan sending a concerned glance to each other, before Maul attacks Kanan, who barely blocks, the red saber taking his sight.
"Kanan!" Ahsoka calls in worry, as he drops to the ground, saber dropping to the floor. Ahsoka defends him from Maul, who moves to kill him, before they part.
"My Apprentice is activating the Temple, or, more precisely, this Battle Station; Which I shall use, to exact my revenge, on all of my enemies!" Maul declares. They engage in a duel, neither making any ground, as the Temple powers up, a beam of condensed energy piercing into the sky. "THE POWER WILL BE MINE! EZRA, WILL BE MINE! AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME!" Maul shouts, re-engaging against Ahsoka, who skillfully blocks each strike.
As they fight, Ahsoka notices Kanan standing once more, a Temple Guard Mask over his face, saber in hand. Feeling the intent through the Force, she leaps away from Maul, who taunts her.
"Running away again, Lady Tano?" She merely smirks.
"If you want to finish our fight, you'll have to deal with him, first." She gestures to Kanan, as Maul turns to face him. As he ignites his weapon, he calls out to Ahsoka.
"Go get Ezra." She nods, dashing up the Temple. By the time she reaches the top, she watches as Vader is about to strike down Ezra.
"Perhaps I was wrong." The Sith Lord muses, his saber swinging down.
"It wouldn't be the first time." She declares, her words halting Vader, who turns to face her.
"It was foretold that you would be here. Our long awaited meeting has come at last." Vader rumbles.
"I'm glad I gave you something to look forward to." Ahsoka remarks.
"We need not be adversaries. The Emperor will show you mercy, if you tell me where the remaining Jedi can be found." Vader offers, deactivating his lightsaber, his intent to let his former student live visible in his actions. The darkness in his heart parting way to let out a spark of light.
"There are no Jedi. You and your Inquisitors have seen to that." Ahsoka accuses.
"Perhaps this child, will confess what you will not." Vader threatens, looking to Ezra, who was on the floor, scared for his life, his lightsaber in pieces.
"I was beginning to believe I knew who you were, behind that mask. But it's impossible. My Master could never be as vile as you." Ahsoka spits.
"Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him." Vader corrects, the light fading slightly.
"Then I will avenge his death." Ahsoka answers, determination in her eyes.
"Revenge is not the Jedi way." Vader accuses, a glimmer of hope in his heart, a possibility of freedom from his chains.
"I am no Jedi." Ahsoka declares, igniting her pure white lightsabers, and engages Vader in a duel, while Ezra regains his composure. Ahsoka leads Vader out, giving Ezra the needed room. As they fight, Ahsoka begins to notice the change in Vader, the hesitation in his swings, the effort put in not killing her. A shove from the Force sends her off the edge she had not noticed to be so close, the fall darkening her vision, as she fights to stay awake, her head in pain.
"Let me give you a hand." Vex's voice echoes to her, as she feels her body heal at an extreme rater, her energy partially restored. The Temple shudders, and with haste, she returns to the top, interrupting Vader, who was attempting to take the Holocron from Ezra, slashing at him, getting a hit as she tumbles towards Ezra and Kanan.
"Ahsoka! Come on, hurry!" Ezra calls in worry. Ahsoka begins to stand, only for Vader to call to her.
"Ahsoka." He calls, his voice half Vader's, half Anakin's. "Ahsoka." He repeats, looking at her, his damaged mask showing his scarred face, his revealed eye the same blue she remembered, now tinged with Sith gold.
"Anakin." Ahsoka gasps. They both stand up, and face each other. "I won't leave you. Not this time." She declares defiantly. Vader takes a moment to think, eyeing Ahsoka, inspecting her, before he slumps slightly.
"Then you will die." He says, re-igniting his saber, and walking hesitantly towards his former student.
"Ahsoka!" Ezra calls, and attempts to get back in the temple, only for Ahsoka to push him back with the Force, before blocking a strike from Vader. "No! No!" Ezra is cut off, as the Temple shuts him out. Vader's strikes are fast, with a purpose, as his emotions are laid bare. The pain, the guilt, the acceptance, the sadness... The love.
"I am sorry." Vader admits, as he continues to attack, his strikes become less hesitant. As the Temple begins to detonate, Ahsoka pushes Vader out of the lock, impaling her blades through the floor, one final act for the brother she loved. His strike to kill is deflected by a yellow blade, Vader falling through the floor as Vex had materialized and saved her. It's then, that she notices the hand already on her shoulder, dragging her away, the Temple detonating behind her, propelling her through whatever door she was passing, her vision darkening.
Vex waits, the ruined Temple hiding him from the harsh, barren planet. When Ahsoka appears, her body colliding with the ashen ground, he immediately goes to help her up, as she turns to face the way she came.
"May the Force be with you, Ezra Bridger." She bids farewell, turning to Vex, tears in her eyes. He brings her into an embrace, her cries bleeding into his signature, as he hides her survival from the fading presence of Vader. Once he is gone, does he remove the shield, as Ahsoka's pain, her loss, spreads through the planet, adding to it's darker shroud, her emotions being released.
"It's alright." Vex assures, bringing her to face him. "He'll return, one day. When the galaxy needs him most, when his family needs him most."
"How can you be so sure?" She asks, her sobs loud to Vex.
"Because i can see it in his eyes." Vex answers softly. "His blue eyes." Ahsoka stiffens, before relaxing into his embrace, before standing up.
"We need to keep moving." She notes, inspecting their surroundings, before leading them deeper inside.
A/N - A little change that will be made for the story. Vader, or Anakin, i should say, isn't fully evil. He is lost, and the only thing he believes to be left, is Palpatine, who is a cruel slave master to him, and is forcing his actions, through the suit, more than letting Anakin be in control. His hesitation is from his body trying to fight Sidious, trying to stop him from killing Ahsoka with his mechanical limbs. A bit of a darker way for Anakin to be Vader, but one that i think fits more with the support that he got from Vex during the war. I still wanted Vader, but i also wanted Vex to have an affect, rather than do nothing other than fight a war and fall in love.
By the end of this, Vader does know that Ahsoka is alive, but Palpatine lets him leave without her death, as he does know where she goes, and tries to finish things himself in the World Between Worlds. This fact does give Vader/Anakin some hope, he knows that one of his loved ones, will stay alive, and be protected. It gives him a reason to fight, if Palpatine should try to get rid of Ahsoka again, though he does not. Because he is not truly evil, I will have to change the final chapter released to explain that to Luke, so he understands the reasoning behind Vader more. Things will be changing a little now, and i don't mind where they could go. Take care and stay safe.
