Ezra's heart sank when he saw the star destroyers orbiting the dull planet of Ord Mantell.
"Star Destroyers," he said. "The Empire is here?"
"The Empire is everywhere, apprentice," Maul replied. "Nothing can stop that. We must adjust our plans to fit their presence." The comm beeped and Ezra stared at the red flashing light.
Everything was red now. Red like Maul.
"Unrecognized Tie Fighter. Identify yourself. This is the Starship Valiant."
"You dare interfere with my mission?" Maul spat into comm. "I am here on inquisitorial business from the Emperor himself. It is strictly confidential, as I'm sure you are aware."
"My apologies, inquisitor," the imperial officer said from the other line. His voice quivered and Ezra could sense his fear. "We'll let you be on your way. Valiant out." The comm beeped as the line closed.
"You sensed his fear, didn't you, Apprentice," Maul said.
"Yes," Ezra replied.
"The title of Inquisitor brings fear alongside it. We can use this to our advantage. Fear is a useful ally. It can heighten your power, force others to do your will, and cause your enemies to crawl away like a child." Maul steered the Tie Fighter into the atmosphere of the planet. As they broke the clouds, Ezra was reminded of home. The planet looked like Lothal. The buildings had rounded rooftops and while the streets were wider than Capital City on Lothal, they seemed just as run down.
The tie fighter screeched toward a landing site straight ahead of them. As soon as they arrived, they landed slowly, the wings of the ship folding toward the cockpit.
"Come along, Apprentice. I shall find where the Black Sun is currently stationed while you build your lightsaber." Maul held out a stack of credit chips and Ezra took them. His new master lifted the hatch on top of the ship and pulled himself out of the cockpit. Ezra followed close behind. Maul hopped from the spherical ship and moments later, Ezra heard a bang. The Zabrak soon began to walk toward the entrance of the landing platform.
"How do you know I won't just leave?" Ezra called.
"I disabled the ship," Maul said. "You would need to steal another in order to leave this planet without me."
"I thought you trusted me," Ezra said.
"I never trust anyone." Maul disappeared into the city, Ezra still seated atop the Tie Fighter.
"He reached into his side pouch and fingered the sith holocron. Ever since opening the holocron, he kept it with him at all times. It reminded him of what happened on Malachor. It reminded him why he was to blame for everything. It reminded him of the power he felt when he opened it.
Ezra shook his head and leapt from the tie fighter. He headed away from the landing platform and toward the marketplace. Speeders passed through the streets and a storm trooper patrol strode down an alley. Ezra heard the rumbling of a crowd of people. There it is, he thought. He rounded a corner and saw a bustling marketplace with vendors selling everything from droids to meilooruns.
Ezra thought back to how he made his lightsaber on the ghost. He remembered which parts he needed for the main body of the saber and which ones he had used for the blaster addition. He looked around the marketplace and saw a droid repair shop and decided to check there for the parts. Maul might not approve of the blaster addition, he thought.
After picking up some of the parts he needed from the repair shop, Ezra continued to find the rest from various other vendors. Each had one or two parts and soon he had all he needed to complete his lightsaber.
He found a secluded alleyway and crouched down behind some crates, out of sight from any passing patron. He laid out the pieces and reached into his side pouch. As he grabbed the kyber crystal, his hand brushed the holocron. The feeling of power surged into him and he lingered next to the sith artifact. After a moment he took the crystal out and placed it amid the pieces of his lightsaber.
"Ezra closed his eyes and thought back to the diagram he saw from Kanan's Holocron. A droid's voice resonated in his mind as he remembered the professor whose teachings were stored within. Ezra reached out with the force and assembled the lightsaber, putting all of his emotions into the task. This will make its power stronger, he thought. The lightsaber clicked as the final piece slid into place.
"Ezra opened his eyes and saw his newly built lightsaber. It wasn't as slick and clean like his other lightsaber had been. None of the parts were perfect fits, but they somehow stayed together. The kyber crystal was visible from where it was placed and it seemed to float in the space. He didn't dare turn it on, not while anyone could be watching.
"This here is a jedi datacrystal!" a vendor shouted from not too far away. "The Jedi used them to store lots of information during the clone wars!" Ezra peeked over the crate and saw a weequay man holding aloft a small green crystal, not much larger than a kyber crystal.
""Hey," he said, walking toward the man. "How did they read the information?"
"They had holocrons, of course! Not many people have those today, I'm sure, but if you're lucky enough to get your hands on one, this datacrystal could be very useful!"
"Apprentice!" Ezra heard a sinister voice call from the alley he just left. He turned around and saw Maul waiting at the other end. "Come along." Ezra thanked the vendor and hurried back through the alley.
"Did you find the Black Sun?" he asked.
"Yes," Maul replied. "And I take it you finished your lightsaber."
"Yeah," Ezra said, holding it out. Maul gingerly took the device with an apprehensive look on his face.
"Are you sure it works?" he asked.
"I'm sure," Ezra said. "I memorized the diagram from Kanan's holocron." Maul grimaced slightly at the mention of Kanan's name.
"Good work. You may need to use it when we encounter the Black Sun." Maul turned and strode out of the alley with this hands clasped behind his back. He looked comfortable and confident, a stark contrast to how Ezra felt.
A ship flew dangerously close to the city buildings, causing a strong wind to blow against Ezra's face. He looked up. He recognized the yellow ship as Ketsu Onyo's shadowcaster. Ketsu worked for the Black Sun, he remembered. It wouldn't be strange to see her ship here. It was slightly comforting to know that someone with a connection to the rebellion was here on Ord Mantell. Ezra smiled slightly and looked down. He had an out if he needed one.
Ezra followed Maul, unsure of what he was going to be facing. Whatever happened, Ezra would rely on the force.
"Just like Kanan.