Terror and despair reigned unchallenged over the darkened depths of Malachor. Beneath the vast pyramid that glowed with a sinister hue were the ruins of a doomed civilisation. Petrified bodies reached upwards in agony for a salvation that would never come. Aged lightsabers of a forgotten battle scattered the ground, having long ceased to function. The cavern roof was a galaxy unto itself, countless holes in the sable stone creating the illusion of a night sky above.
A familiar fear filled Ahsoka. The darkness– the death- the towering temple. It was a morbid parody of what she'd witnessed in Vader's mind- a once-sacred place turned into a horrific field of battle. Just as the Sith had struck at the Jedi Temple, bringing only devastation and despair, it seemed that the Jedi had attempted a similar attack against Malachor's temple an eternity ago. The result, it seemed, had been the same. A slaughter. Frozen in time by wretched petrification was a twisted reflection of her own nightmares- and perhaps this was why, in spite of all she'd endured thus far, Ahsoka couldn't suppress her terror.
"Do you sense it?" Maul asked as the pair finally reached the base of the pyramid. An entryway was marked with ancient red runes, blocked by an enormous column of stone. "The prize we seek lies just ahead. All we need do is claim it."
"Something tells me that'll be easier said than done," responded Ahsoka, gesturing to the seemingly immovable obstruction in their path. "Can you lift it?"
"I cannot. But we can. This, my dear Ahsoka, is what I meant when I said that the key to unlocking the Temple's secrets is trust. Two must trust one another… as well as themselves… in order to lift the stones… Only two. No more, no less."
Her eyes widened.
"What?! Maul, I- you know what happened to my connection to the Force."
"You cannot call on the Force because you are attempting to draw from the Light. But the balance has shifted. The Darkness has never been stronger… you need only use it."
Ahsoka's heart sank at Maul's words. An apologetic expression spread across her face.
"…I'm sorry, Maul, but I can't do it. This… it goes against everything I've-"
Maul placed a single hand on Ahsoka's shoulder.
"Listen to me. After all that we've fought for- after all the blood and suffering that it took to get us to this point- would it truly be fair to forsake our cause- the cause so many have sacrificed so much for- in some vain attempt to cling to the Jedi's idealism?"
Ahsoka felt herself trembling. Fear and despair were taking hold. She brushed off Maul's hand, before clutching her own tightly.
"I… I don't care about those ideals anymore, Maul! It isn't about that!"
"Then… what is it about?"
Ahsoka tried desperately to calm herself. It was only somewhat successful. Maul was right. They'd come so far. And she couldn't afford to stop now… could she?
"I saw what the Dark Side did to my master. The… way it twisted his mind, turning him into that… thing. And I…"
Maul gave Ahsoka a sympathetic look.
"You fear becoming like him. A… monster."
"...yes."
"Ahsoka… your darker emotions- fear, anger, even hatred- they are no less a part of you than your compassion, courage, and selflessness. If left unchecked, they can consume you- as they did to your master… and as they did to me. But… such a fate is not inevitable. If managed correctly, they can be necessary tools for achieving your ends. And in this case, your ends are noble, are they not?"
She nodded wordlessly.
"Then you have nothing to fear," reassured Maul. "Few have a will as formidable as your own. I am certain you possess the strength to control your inner darkness."
Maul extended a hand out to Ahsoka.
"So please," he began, his voice a mix of empathy and purpose. "Trust me."
With a sharp exhale, Ahsoka let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. With one hand, she took Maul's, and with the other, she reached out to the formidable stone. Her grip on Maul's hand tightened as she willed the stone to rise. But it remained unmoving.
"I can't do it, Maul. I'm telling you-"
"Concentrate," said Maul. "You've buried your feelings deep, but they cannot remain so forever. Allow your fury to rise to the surface- remember all that you have lost and all whose lives our enemy has destroyed. Your feelings… your anger … they give you power. Wield it, so that you may finally break your chains."
Ahsoka closed her eyes as her thoughts shifted to her vision of Vader's memories- advancing towards the Jedi Temple's entrance, propelled by desperation and fear. The inconceivable cruelty of her former master- the betrayal of those he'd sworn to serve- it was unforgivable. It was infuriating.
Then, her mind turned to the clones- the men who'd once put their loyalty to Ahsoka above the purpose they were created for- their duty to protect the Republic. Rex- one of the few people in the galaxy she'd been able to trust- had died by her hand- as had countless others as part of Ahsoka's plan to get to Malachor. The guilt was overwhelming. But if she refused to act, how many more would she have allowed to suffer? What choice did she have?
Finally, her focus shifted to Sidious. It was he who had been the phantom behind the devastation of the Clone Wars. It was he who had destroyed Anakin Skywalker, leaving behind a vile perversion of everything that her master had once stood for. It was he who had stolen from the clones that which they held most dear- their individuality, their autonomy, their dedication to protect the galaxy from tyranny. And it was he who had been the architect of the Jedi's destruction. That such a horrid and evil man could be rewarded for his actions with the title of Emperor was utterly sickening. The endless fury Ahsoka had repressed and the lust for vengeance she'd worked so hard to ignore bubbled to the surface at long last. And then, tensing her fingers, she felt the Force flowing through her once more. Through their contact, the bridge between Maul and Ahsoka's minds became stronger than ever. It seemed he was right. With the power she felt awakening within her, Ahsoka was capable of anything. Acting as one, the pair directed their will towards lifting the stone, and it complied with little hesitation.
"You see?" Maul asked, prompting Ahsoka to open her eyes and face him. "You were wise to trust me. Your strength… your power… it cannot be taken from you so easily. Now… let us press forward."
The emotional barrier she'd built had been a floodgate- and now that it had been breached, she couldn't help but feel emboldened by the festering rage. Ever since her duel with Vader, she'd felt so powerless. But not anymore. Now, she had the strength to finally face all that the galaxy had thrown at her. Come what may, she would do whatever it took to see her purpose fulfilled.
"...right," she grimaced in response to Maul's words, evidently still strained from bearing the tremendous weight.
Together, the pair advanced, passing under column after column of formidable stone held up only by the duo's impossible resolve. They arrived in an awe-inspiring room with a platform upon which a glowing red object hung in the air. Between where they stood and the object they sought was a vast and seemingly endless chasm- a distance that would have been impossible to leap alone, even for the most powerful of Force users.
"Behold… the key," announced Maul, gesturing to the glowing object. Ahsoka immediately recognised it.
"That's… a holocron, right? A Sith Holocron."
"Indeed. But it is so, so much more. The Sith have always believed that knowledge is power… and in this temple, that is true in its most literal sense. Though… in order to claim it, one must be willing to risk oblivion."
Ahsoka smirked.
"With those metal legs of yours, I doubt you'd be able to get to it. I'll make the jump, just… be sure to give me a boost."
"Of course," Maul nodded.
Ahsoka steeled herself, taking a deep breath. Then, drawing upon the Force to propel her, she leapt. Her jump took her far- more than three-quarters the way to the platform- but it wasn't far enough. Ahsoka's eyes widened in panic as she began to fall… only for Maul to catch her with the Force and throw her the rest of the way. She landed in front of the holocron with surprising grace, breathing a sigh of relief.
"What now?" she called back to Maul.
"I didn't think I'd need to spell it out for you. The holocron. Take it."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes.
"Gee, that's real helpful of you, Maul…"
"If you don't want unhelpful answers, don't ask unhelpful questions."
"It wasn't unhelpful- are there any traps I should know about? Ancient Sith tricks?"
"None that I am aware of."
"Okay… if you're sure about this…"
With a shaky, tentative hand, Ahsoka grasped the Sith Holocron. And then, the Temple, long dormant, finally awoke.
The hum of ancient machinery filled the air. The ground quaked, and a field of crackling lightning materialised above Ahsoka. Then, the platform upon which she stood began to raise, bringing her closer and closer to the deadly white field.
"Maul?!" Ahsoka yelled, her voice panicked. "What's happening?!"
"Another test- the temple is reverting to firing mode!"
"The temple is what?!"
"There's no time to explain it, just- jump, Ahsoka!"
"Right!"
In a far less coordinated manner than when she'd jumped to the platform, Ahsoka attempted to leap back to where Maul stood. Once again, Maul caught her and pulled her back to the safety of ground. This time, however, her landing was far less elegant- she fell to the floor, her breathing ragged.
"Are you okay?"
"Ugh… I hate being right,"
"No you don't," smirked Maul, helping her to her feet.
"…you know what?" smiled Ahsoka. "Good point."
"Mind passing the holocron for a second?" Maul asked Ahsoka as the pair began to return the way they came, being once again impeded by the pillars of stone.
"Sure," Ahsoka said as she handed it over. "So… ever gonna tell me what you meant when you said that the temple was… what was it? 'Reverting to firing mode'?"
"If that is your wish. As with all things regarding the Sith, there is more to this holocron- and to this temple- than meets the eye."
Maul placed the holocron into a triangular notch in the wall before removing it, prompting the stone pillars to lift out of their path one-by-one as the pair walked.
"This holocron is store of knowledge, but also a key - not just to mere doors," he said. "As for this temple… though it was a place of worship to some, to others it was an engine of destruction- a superweapon designed to grant its wielder absolute power. When the holocron is placed in the obelisk at the temple's apex, this temple- this battle station - will activate. Against such a weapon, my old master will be powerless."
"Really?" Ahsoka responded, a hopefulness spreading across her face. "Heh… if this is our chance to turn the tables on Sidious, then… I guess it'll all have been worth it. Whatever it takes… right?"
"...indeed," said Maul after a slight hesitation. "Whatever it takes."
The pair continued to walk until Ahsoka abruptly gestured for them to stop
"Wait-" she whispered as the pair reached the final stone column. "Do you sense it?"
"I do," replied Mail in an equally hushed tone. "Force wielders."
Standing at the entrance of the Sith temple, the Grand Inquisitor couldn't help but feel some sense of awe at his new master's ingenuity. The galaxy was in chaos- the Empire was on the precipice of collapse- and yet, where others would have seen adversity, Sidious saw opportunity. Maul had played into the gambit perfectly, and now, it was the Inquisitors for whom a valuable opportunity had presented itself. With Vader's defeat, the position of Sith Apprentice had opened. No successor had risen to claim it. But that would soon change. After this day, there was certain to be a power struggle- bloody infighting among the Jedi-turned-Jedi-hunters was inevitable.
Still, none of that would matter if they failed to prove their superiority over Sidious' fallen apprentice- if they failed in this most crucial mission their master had assigned them. And so, for what he was certain would be the first and last time in galactic history, the Imperial Inquisitorius were united. Nine Inquisitors stood ready to obey his orders, their positions concealed by the aged architecture. With such an overwhelming advantage, what hope could their quarry have?
The earth shook. The temple awakened. Glowing symbols spread across the enormous pyramid's surface as the structure opened up like some bizarre alien flower. Violent arcs of purple lightning crackled from the pyramid's apex as an unsettling hum filled the air. And then, the stone door obstructing access to the temple's interior slowly slid open, revealing their prey- Ahsoka and Maul. The former Sith let out an indulgent laughter as he stepped out of the temple alongside Ahsoka, not at all fazed by the Inquisitorius' sudden appearance.
"What fun, what fun! So these are the fruits of my old master's labour… Project Black Saber- also known as The Inquisitorius. Hah! His plans must truly be in tatters to rely on hapless upstarts such as yourself!"
As the pair exited the temple, the other Inquisitors emerged from their concealed positions, encircling them completely.
"On the contrary," announced the Grand Inquisitor. With a flick of his wrist, the rest of the Inquisitorius- a mix of various species and builds, all armoured in black and carrying strange double-bladed sabers with a crescent guard- drew and ignited their weapons.
"This was always the plan, Maul. It's a shame seeing the bigger picture is a trait you so sorely lack."
"What would a mere pawn like yourself understand of the larger game?"
"More than you. I'm afraid you underestimated your master's foresight. He knew if he sequestered himself on Coruscant, it would only be a matter of time until you came knocking here. And the galaxy being in the state that it's in… Sidious has need of a new tool to bring the galaxy to heel."
Maul smirked, a brief chuckle escaping his lips. Finally, something had clicked.
"Ah… I see. He needs the temple's power to regain control over the galaxy… but since my former master couldn't activate the temple without the holocron, he used us to acquire it for him. And you gutless vermin were tasked with remaining here to take it from us."
"At last, the gears seem to be turning," said the Grand Inquisitor with a condescending grin. "Perhaps you are not an entirely lost cause."
Maul gave the Inquisitor an unnerving grin.
"Unfortunately for you, Sidious has made a grave miscalculation."
"And what, pray tell, is that?"
"Believing some rabid mongrels can do what his prized pet could not."
"Mustafar was a test- a test Lord Vader failed miserably. Vader fell because he could not see beyond the past- he had no capacity to look to the future. I assure you, we share no such weaknesses."
"Let us see."
"Be ready," Maul muttered to Ahsoka as he drew and ignited his own weapon, adopting an offensive stance. "We'll take them together."
She nodded in agreement as the two stood back-to-back, weapons at the ready. The pair had been surrounded by a total of ten Force-wielding warriors- a threat that had only been matched by Vader. But this time, there would be no safety nets- no miraculous revivals. If they fell here, their ambitions would die with them, while the Emperor would gain a powerful new tool to expand his dominion over the galaxy. Ahsoka knew what needed to be done. In order to stand a chance- in order to survive- she would need to wield the darkness she'd been running from for so long. She ignited her sabers, and let the rage within her flow free. In a sudden burst of motion, Maul instantly cut down two Inquisitors with blistering speed. He spun his lightsaber around and brought it down towards another of the Inquisitors, who only barely managed to block the formidable strike. Such a dramatic display immediately drew the attention of the majority of their opponents. Ahsoka stood ready to face what remained.
The Grand Inquisitor rushed at Ahsoka and their blades locked, only for an assailant to come in from the side and attempt to strike her down.
"Ahsoka Tano… I'm surprised you aren't on our side," he said.
While one of her hands held the weapon that kept the Grand Inquisitor's saber at bay, she violently grabbed the neck of her other assailant using the Force- simultaneously halting their attack and causing them to drop their weapon as they clutched their neck in panic. Seizing the opening, Ahsoka used all her strength to shove the Grand Inquisitor's blade back before swiftly impaling the other attacker.
"The Jedi threw you to the wolves for the sake of playing politics. Their loyalty? Their principles? It only ever mattered when it was convenient for them. There was no future for such charlatans!"
Ahsoka's eyes widened in realisation as another of his subordinates moved to strike at her head. She ducked low, seamlessly transitioning into a sweeping kick that knocked them to their feet, allowing her to finish them off with a stab to the chest.
"But the Empire? The Empire is the future. Order- justice- security- every empty promise made by the Jedi will be fulfilled by the galaxy's new rulers!"
The crescent guard of the Grand Inquisitor's saber swung downwards, forming a full circle. Then, the saber's twin emitters started to accelerate rapidly across the circular guard- creating a seemingly impenetrable field of spinning red in front of him.
"You fight with such ferocity… and for what? To protect what little remains of the Order that betrayed you? The Order that repaid your blind loyalty with a knife in your back?!"
The Inquisitor approached. The red blades drew closer.
But then, the Grand Inquisitor felt his entire body being seized by an utterly crippling paralysis. He couldn't move. He could hardly breathe. His eyes widened in terror as he saw a strange smirk spread across Ahsoka's face.
"You misunderstand, Inquisitor."
Ahsoka's emotions were a bizarre mix of surprise, satisfaction, and schadenfreude. For so long, she had been the one who was afraid. She had been made to feel small and hopeless and powerless in the face of an enemy that seemed invincible. But now, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she wasn't a victim of terror- she was inflicting it. It was a powerful and cathartic feeling.
"I'm not doing this for the Jedi."
Her rage had reignited in her the will to fight. An unsettling chuckle escaped her lips as she directed the Force to hold the Grand Inquisitor in place- making it a trivial matter to slash the hilt of his saber in two, disabling the weapon.
"Your master took everything from me…"
With uncharacteristic brutality, Ahsoka stabbed him in the stomach, leaving him to fall helplessly to the ground.
"It's time I returned the favour."
When the fighting finally ceased, Ahsoka and Maul stood victorious over the corpses of all those that had been sent to hunt them.
"Are you… okay?" Maul asked to a quivering Ahsoka.
For a moment, she closed her eyes. The quivering stopped. Seconds passed. And then, an inhuman coldness settled across her face as her eyes finally opened.
"Yes," she responded, her voice curt and devoid of all feeling. "...let's finish this."
In the war against Sidious, Ahsoka had lost her friends, her family, and her purpose. But more and more, she was sacrificing something even more valuable to her- her principles. Indulging in anger- given in to hate- she knew exactly where such emotions could lead. But this was the only way. It seemed as though Ahsoka was willing to give anything to bring an end to the monster that had destroyed her. It seemed as though such single-minded determination would soon be rewarded.
It seemed as though victory was just moments away.
But the hardest choices were yet to come.