With a thunderous boom, an explosion shook the palace on impact, momentarily bathing the room a fiery red. Maul stood with his hands clasped behind his back gazing at the destruction outside. Perhaps he was seeing how the Death Watch fared against the clones, or maybe he simply enjoyed the chaos. Ahsoka would bet on both.

With a heavy sigh, Maul shakes his head. "Look at them. So blissfully ignorant."

She sweeps out a hand. "Care to tell me what this is all about? Or would you rather save it for the Council?"

At those words, Maul finally turns to look at her. His yellow eyes gleam with mock amusement and he chuckles darkly. "Oh, no, no. You are the one that I wish to speak with."

He steps away from the window and saunters across the room so he stands even with her. Another explosion shook the palace with a flare of bright orange. "Were you not cast out of your Order?"

It stings to hear it spoken so callously, so bluntly. She's long since accepted her resignation from the Order but sometimes (most times) it hurts to think about. She pushes away the bitterness, knowing it'll only distract her. "I left voluntarily."

Poised, Maul pushed on. "Yes, but you were motivated to leave by the hypocrisy of the Jedi Council."

To be scrutinized so easily by a Sith was both unnerving and appalling. His words were not untrue. She left the Order because she could not commit the same dedication to the people that condemned her. The bitterness stung sharp and she was forced to look away.

At her lack of response, Maul sighs, like he'd been hoping to get a rise out of her. "We were both tools for greater powers."

"I am here to bring you to justice," she says, taking two steps forward. She squares her shoulders, resolved not to let him have the advantage.

Maul laughs sardonically, looking highly amused as if he knew something she didn't. "Justice is merely the construct of the current power base. A base, which, according to my calculations, is about to change."

She recalls her talk with Obi-Wan, about his mention of the Sith Master—Darth Sidious—who orchestrated the Clone Wars. "And Darth Sidious is behind it?"

"He is behind everything. In the shadows, always. But soon, very soon…" Maul took a shuddering breath in. "He will reveal himself."

Throughout their short confrontation, she's managed to gain more information than the Council ever has in four years. If she can keep Maul talking, she might be able to obtain Sidious' identity.

Lowering her voice, she replies, "With your help, the Jedi can stop Sidious before it's too late."

"Too late for what? The Republic to fall? It already has, and you just can't see it!" Maul's voice grew louder, as if frustrated that he's had this argument before. "There is no justice, no law, no order, except for the one that will replace it!"

She watches him steadily. Maul's emotions blaze in the Force and for a moment she thinks he might be scared. No, not scared.

Anticipatory.

"The time of the Jedi has passed. They cannot defeat Sidious." His tone turns noticeably softer. "But, together, you and I can. Every choice you have made has led you to this moment."

Maul holds out a hand.

In her peripheral vision a glare of vermilion lights up the sky. Whatever she chooses now could either end the war or throw the balance further into chaos. She reaches into the Force to gain a glimpse and for a brief instant she sees the truth; they could stop Sidious, only Maul would then try to take power for himself.

The floor-to-ceiling windows suddenly implode, sending glass shards flying in their direction. The shards cut into her bare arms but that hardly matters. She knows what she has to do. Her Masters taught her to never deny the will of the Force. Although, there is one thing that's bothered her since Almec had confessed before his death.

"I will help you," she says quietly, "but you must answer one question."

"You have but to ask."

She looks into his hauntingly yellow eyes. "What do you want with Anakin Skywalker?"

His breath hitches. "He is the key...to everything."

She's aware of Anakin's reputation as the Chosen One and wonders if that is what Maul is referring to. "To bring balance to the Force?"

Maul frowns, a slightly bewildered look on his tattooed face. "To destroy. He has long been groomed for his role, as my Master's new apprentice."

Her blood runs cold and her stomach flips uneasily. Anakin would never turn to the Dark Side. He's compassionate, protective, caring. It's not in his nature to turn Dark. "You lie."

Maul laughs mockingly. "I'm afraid not. In fact, I was so certain of his fate that I orchestrated this war to lure him here with Kenobi to kill him. Thus, depriving Sidious of his prized pupil."

A fierce protectiveness overcame her. Maul is exactly how Obi-Wan described him, cunning and ambitious.

"I know Anakin," she declares firmly. She reaches for her lightsabers and ignites them, falling into the familiar stance of Jar'Kai. "Your vision is flawed."

Maul's eyes narrow and his expression shifts into distaste. "I see the padawan needs one last lesson."

She tightens her grip and braces for a fight. Maul grabs his saberstaff and unsheathes it, revealing the crimson of the Sith. He moves into a Juyo stance, twirls his saber, and lunges with a roar.

Ahsoka balances precariously on the support beam that sags beneath their weight, tilting dangerously towards the city below. Without her lightsabers, she feels exposed, impotent. The wind whips around them, cold enough to sting her eyes. Maul stands in front of her, one hand extended.

"I give you one last chance," he pants. "Join me…or die."

She narrows her eyes and spats, "Never."

Maul scowls and springs forward, bringing his saber up to strike at her. She dodges the first hit at her head, then another at her feet. The momentum of their brawl leads her closer to the end of the beam, likely what Maul had planned. When he moves to strike at her head again she grabs at the hilt of his saberstaff and pulls, reversing their positions. The crimson blade slices through the beam and she watches as Maul falls off the edge.

Quickly, she stretches out a hand and stops his descent, freezing him in midair.

Maul glares up at her savagely. "Let me go! Let me die!"

Down below, she can see three Republic gunships headed their way. In a matter of seconds, they're surrounded by clones and Mandalorians. Spotlights shine on them as Maul thrashes angrily, bellowing nonsense. "You're all going to burn! We're all going to die!"

Two Mandalorians use their whipcords to bind him while Maul continues to thrash and yell. "You don't know what you're doing!"

Rex then stuns him and once Maul is secure, she releases her Force hold, feeling slightly lightheaded from the exertion. Maul falls like a limp doll, hanging lifelessly.

Rex salutes her. "We'll take it from here, Commander!"

She nods once and the gunship takes off towards the city, carrying its precious cargo. She gazes up at the hole in the domed ceiling where Maul had intended to escape. She feels strangely bereft, yet can't quite figure out why. Did she make the right choice by refusing to join Maul? What is happening with Anakin? The Force gives her no insight and she wonders if they've already lost.