Glass shards flew across the room as the window broke. The sounds of battle, of the men and women dying below, filled the stale air of the throne room as Ahsoka considered the man standing across from her. Maul's hand was stretched out toward her in an offer she knew couldn't possibly work in her favor. Everything about him was revolting to Ahsoka. The smug look on his face, the mad glint in his yellow eyes, the horrid stench of the dark side permeating the air around him.
Reject his offer! You know he's manipulating you! her mind screamed. The rational part of herself she knew she should listen to. Ahsoka knew of his reputation all too well. Maul had killed hundreds of people, including civilians. He had murdered Obi-Wan's former Master. By all rights, her sabers should have already been drawn. And yet there was a nagging feeling in the back of her consciousness, a small voice that wouldn't go away. One that begged her to listen.
Maul was a Sith, and he seemingly knew more about Darth Sidious than the Jedi did. His knowledge could be invaluable, and she knew he wouldn't come willingly to speak to the Council. There was something else as well. A strange feeling of dread and nausea in the Force she couldn't describe. It lingered in the background like a festering wound that wouldn't heal. She didn't know what it meant other than something horrible was lurking under the surface. If it was tied to Sidious, to Maul's knowledge of him, she could be losing valuable time. She had to know more.
Going against every instinct her body was screaming at her, she swallowed down any sense of caution or doubt she had as she opened her mouth to speak. "I will help you. But you must answer one question."
"You have but to ask." She tried to ignore the shudder she felt at the look of glee that passed over the glow of his hideous eyes.
"Who is Darth Sidious?"
Maul barked out a laugh in response. "Of course, the Jedi don't know the mastermind lurks right under their nose. Fools. Sidious is none other than the head of your doomed Republic, Chancellor Palpatine."
Ahsoka felt all the air in her lungs escape as her breathing halted. "What did you say?" she whispered, so low that she wasn't even sure if Maul had heard her. It didn't even matter if he had. Her mind was swimming too much to comprehend any reply he gave. Palpatine was Darth Sidious. The orchestrator of the Clone Wars. She always knew something had felt off about Palpatine on the few times she had met the man. Ahsoka had always respected Anakin's friendship with the Chancellor. He had always been there for her former Master seemingly when he needed it most. She knew that spying on him would weigh heavily on Anakin once Obi-Wan informed her of the Council's plan. But she couldn't deny that she had always found the man too disconcertingly friendly, like a predator sizing up its prey before it moved in for the kill. She never could have imagined this.
And then another jolt struck her, a realization so sickening she thought she might vomit. Anakin was in terrible danger. He had no way of knowing who Palpatine really was, what he may want with him. Ahsoka could only assume that Palpatine wanted Anakin as his apprentice now that Dooku was dead. She knew Anakin too well to know he would ever accept such an offer. But she didn't doubt that Sidious would kill him in response. She had to save him, save everyone.
Much as she wanted to believe that Maul was merely a raving lunatic, she couldn't ignore his words or the way the Force screamed at her. So, putting aside the way her mind still screamed at her to say no, she stepped forward toward Maul's outstretched hand and grasped it. She tried to ignore the feeling she was betraying everything and everyone she held dear. And the look in Maul's eyes. The giddy look of a madman that would haunt her dreams.
AN: So, I cranked this sucker out really fast after watching the latest Clone Wars episode. The Phantom Apprentice was phenomenal by the way. If you haven't watched it, go do that. The duel between Ahsoka and Maul was worth watching the episode for that alone. But the scene where Maul tried to entice Ahsoka to join him really stood out to me. She almost accepted his offer too. But any plans Maul made have had regarding a team-up between the two (Let's be honest, it wouldn't be anything good. It's Maul.) evaporated the second he mentioned his plans to kill Anakin. And understandably so. Though Ahsoka's faith in Anakin is honestly heartbreaking, since we know Maul is right. I wanted to see what would happen if Ahsoka asked a somewhat different question, keeping Maul's plans of killing Anakin a secret from her for a while longer. So I wrote this bad boy. I don't know if it's really any good. It's certainly not as polished as I'd like. But I wanted to get it out while I still had the inspiration. I'd like to maybe turn it into a full fledged story, but I really don't know if I should. So any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading!