The Nebula cruised through hyperspace as Ahsoka sat in her quarters, pondering. The Holocron sat on the opposite side of the room, now with the first Kyber crystals sitting in the slot on one side. They'd gotten one crystal. But what about the other three? Ahsoka and Barriss had agreed not to use their own crystals. They didn't know what would happen to the crystals when the Holocron opened, but they didn't want to risk destroying or harming their crystals.
Her door slid open and Lux stepped in. "Hey," he said, taking a seat next to her on the bed. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to figure out this Holocron," said Ahsoka. "I've been trying to figure out what information might be inside. I mean, does the Order even know it exists? I don't think they would have left it on Ilum if they had known about it, but what kind of information is unknown even to the Jedi?"
"I could guess," said Lux, "I'm not a Jedi, though, so I guess I couldn't exactly be certain."
"The Jedi don't know everything," said Ahsoka. "Take a shot at it."
"Alright," said Lux. "Well, most Jedi Holocrons are blue, right? I haven't exactly seen a whole lot of Jedi Holocrons, but from what I have seen, they all look pretty similar. But that looks like nothing I've ever seen before."
"So, what do you think it is?"
Lux considered for a moment. "Well, does it look like a Sith Holocron?"
"No," said Ahsoka.
"So maybe it's neither," said Lux. "Maybe it's neutral. Is there any group that isn't Jedi or Sith?"
"I think so," Ahsoka said slowly. "When I was a youngling at the Temple, I heard stories about some people called...Gray Jedi. They don't believe in the ways of the Sith or the ways of the Jedi. They just believe in the Force. Seems kinda nice, doesn't it?"
"Ahsoka..." asked Lux. "I've been meaning to ask you, but, why did the Jedi send you away? You don't have to answer, but I was just wondering."
Ahsoka looked down at her feet. "It's kind of a long story. It was during the Battle of Saleucami. I was supposed to protect the main base, but one of my soldiers had gotten into some trouble so I left to go help him. But while I was gone, the Separatists sent a huge wave and they captured the base. The Republic had to send the squad of ships that was supposed to be guarding a Venator-class Star Destroyer. They got us out, but the Venator ship was destroyed because it was exposed without the fleet to protect it. There was a Jedi Master on the ship who died. I guess that was what did it because the Council decided that my attachments were too great and I could no longer able to follow the Jedi Code."
Lux listened to her story intently. "But you were just trying to help! Shouldn't they be more forgiving to the people who fight in their war?"
Ahsoka snorted. "Try telling them that. It's like Master Plo always used to say. 'In a war, our victories are greater, but or failures cause us to fall far farther than they did before.'" Ahsoka laughed bitterly. "Seems like I fell pretty far."
Lux took one of her hands. "It wasn't your fault, Ahsoka. You were doing your best to help everyone."
"Sometime my best isn't good enough," she said.
"Your best will always be good enough," said Lux. "At least it will be for me." He closed the distance between the two and just as their lips were about to touch, they were interrupted.
"Lovebirds!" Barriss called from the bridge of the ship. "We've arrived at Mandalore."
Ahsoka stood, releasing Lux's hand. "Thanks, Lux."
He nodded. "Don't mention it."
The two made their way to the front, where they were greeted by Barriss, who had a giant smirk on her face. "Was I interrupting something?" she asked innocently.
Ahsoka smacked her lightly on the arm. "No," she said, but the way she and Lux glanced at each other and the slight blush on their faces told Barriss otherwise.
The Nebula glided down to the main city of Mandalore. When they landed, two people in Mandalorian armor approached their ship.
"Who are they?" Barriss asked.
"Deathwatch," said Ahsoka, recalling her previous experiences on Mandalore, including the capture of Duchess Satine and the betrayal of the Prime Minister.
"Who?" asked Barriss.
"A terrorist group," said Lux, remembering his experience on Carlac. "They're set on murdering Duchess Satine and reverting Mandalore to its past ways."
Barriss opened the door and the ramp descended. The trio made their way down from the ship and onto the landing pad, where the soldiers were waiting.
"Put your hands up!" one of the soldiers commanded. His armor was painted partially red and there were small horns painted on the top of his helmet. Ahsoka caught Barriss moving for her lightsaber and Ahsoka stopped her with a glance. They shouldn't reveal themselves so soon after their arrival.
Ahsoka put her hands up and the other two followed her lead. The two soldiers pushed them forwards with their guns.
The landing bay opened and the capital city was revealed. Ahsoka could barely believe what she was seeing. The city, beautiful and grand the last time she had seen it, was partially in ruins. Entire buildings were in flames and Deathwatch soldiers flew above the city, shooting at one another.
"What happened here?" asked Ahsoka.
"Deathwatch is in control of the city," said the soldier with red armor. "They split in half after the death of Pre Visla. The city's nearly always in a state of civil war." Ahsoka remembered the cruel leader who she'd clashed with on the planet of Carlac. She wasn't exactly sad to hear of his death. She was still confused on one thing, though.
"Did the Duchess just allow all of this to happen?" Ahsoka asked.
The soldiers looked at her strangely. "You don't know?"
"Know what?' asked Ahsoka.
"Duchess Satine is dead," said the soldier with the painted armor.
"What?" gasped Ahsoka. "When did this happen? And who is in charge of Mandalore now?"
"The Prime Minister has been reinstated."
Four more Deathwatch soldiers soared towards them. "Who are these?" one asked.
"Visitors," said the soldier with painted armor. "Take 'em to see Lord Maul," he commanded.
"Lord Maul?" asked Ahsoka. "As in...Darth Maul?"
The soldiers ignored her question and the soldiers seized Ahsoka, Barriss, and Lux and soared towards the Palace with them. The streets below them were littered with bodies in Mandalorian armor.
Many of the large glass windows of the Palace were shattered and parts of the Palace were on fire. Ahsoka remembered the interior as being lavish, bright, and comfortable, but now, it was cold and dark.
It seemed to be devoid of all life. Besides the guards at the entrance and one office which Ahsoka assumed to belong to the Prime Minister, there was no one inside as far as Ahsoka could see. Ahsoka couldn't tell where the Deathwatch soldiers were taking them until they opened a grand set of doors which led to a throne room.
A man sat on the throne, and as Ahsoka grew closer, she could see the distinctive red and black markings of the Zabrak Sith Darth Maul.
He seemed almost weary, as if something, or someone had sapped his strength. But he sat up straight as they approached.
"What are these?" asked Maul, waving a hand towards Ahsoka, Barriss, and Lux.
"Visitors to Mandalore, sir," said one of the soldiers.
"Not just any visitors," said Maul. "I can sense the Force is strong with two of them. This one, however," he said, waving a hand at Lux, "I have no use for. Take him to the prison. I do not take association with Jedi lightly."
Two of the soldiers seized Lux roughly by his arms and pulled him away from the Throne Room, leaving Barriss, Ahsoka, Maul, and two soldiers.
"Now, take these Jedi to my chambers. I'll deal with them later."