Kanan knew from the second they set out on this mission that is was a bad idea. The very thought of going to Malachor kept him awake at night. A planet well known to be riddled with Sith artefacts and other darkside elements.
So the fact that Yoda, of all people, had willingly told his padawan to go to Malachor in the first place was unbelievable. It also didn't help that Ezra was so enthusiastic about the idea in the first place, despite both Kanan and Ahsoka's hesitance. In fact he was more surprised by Ahsoka's willingness to abide by Yoda's suggestion. Wasn't she kicked out of the order by the council headed by the grand master?
What little help that did now anyway, as he and his padawan pursued the Inquisitor that had ambushed them across the ash ridden surface of Malachor. Kanan hadn't recognized this Inquisitor, he certainly wasn't one of the previous Inquisitors that he had encountered before. Thus he had no prior knowledge to how he fought and thus how to counter him. Kanan only hoped that the unorthodox style he had developed, and subsequently passed on to Ezra, would help them overpower the Inquisitor. He had questions for him anyway.
"Never had an Inquisitor run from us before. What's his problem?" Ezra inquired, hot on Kanan's heels as they pursued their new target.
"Well we was outnumbered three to one before Ahsoka fell. Guess he wasn't expecting all of us at once." Kanan responded, vaulting over a collapsed pillar that had clearly been part of the temple's architecture.
"And with the way Ahsoka handled those other two without breaking a sweat, I'd run too." Ezra responded with a light chuckle.
It was not surprise to Kanan that Ezra admired the Togruta force user as much as he did. While he would never admit it, part of Kanan himself admired Ahsoka. Despite everything she had been through, she was still willing to help those in need. He remembered his days before Order 66 in the temple, hearing stories of Padawan Tano single handed stopping an assassination attempt on a republic senator, or Padawan Tano uncovers Mandalorian Terrorist hideout. To him, she was a hero. A hero who was wronged by everyone she had ever known. He hoped to rectify that. To show her that he and his friends, no, his family would be by her side regardless of her path.
Before he could dwell any longer on the Togruta his comm link lit up. A series of buzzes and bleeps, some dignified and informative, and others downright insulting. It seemed Chopper desired his attention.
"Chop, you found the ship yet? It belongs to an Inquisitor!" Kanan responded. Another series of beeps came through the comm link, sounding almost panicked.
"Yeah I know, but we can't let him leave." Kanan was growing increasingly impatient with the droid. A questioning buzz was the response.
"Because if he does escape no doubt he'll inform Vader or his friends. Or both! Do you really want to deal with all of that right now?" Kanan yelled.
Chopper responded with a deadpanned beep, inquiring what to do.
"Just get to the ship and stop him from escaping." Kanan ordered, not believing for a second that the droid would complete his task, despite Choppers affirmative response.
"Blasted Astromech." Ezra muttered, still hot on Kanan's heels. The two continued their pursuit across the open decrepit landscape of Malachor. The gap between them and the Inquisitor seemed to neither close nor widen. Whoever this Inquisitor was, it was safe to say he relied on speed rather than outright aggression.
"Up ahead. TIE interceptor!" Ezra called, vaguely waving his saber in the direction of the Inquisitor.
'Blast it.' Kanan thought. If the Inquisitor made it off of Malachor, then it would only be a matter of time before Vader arrived. If that TIE took off...
The TIE did take off, but not with the Inquisitor at the helm. Said Inquisitor seemed to halt his progress, staring at the ship with surprise and confusion. Kanan and Ezra were equally confused.
At that moment the TIE began to fire its cannons directly at the Inquisitor, who tried in vain to deflect the fire. This proved to be ultimately pointless, as a stray shot made it past the Inquisitors saber and impacted on his armour, knocking him to the ground, and sent his saber flying across the ground out of his grip.
It was then that Kanan caught a glimpse of the individual responsible. Chopper, seated in the Inquisitor's ship, had clearly high jacked the vessel in order to prevent the Inquisitors escape. Perhaps he was wrong about the droid.
"Chop, sometimes you do it right." He called out to the droid, as he and Ezra restrained the Inquisitor.
Chopper beeped back enthusiastically.
To say that Maul had changed in the years after Order 66 was somewhat of an understatement, Ahsoka mentally noted. He was always a crazy tyrant, hell bent on the complete destruction of the Jedi Order and all of his enemies.
But as they walked towards wherever Maul was leading them Ahsoka made one keen observation.
Maul sure liked the sound of his own voice.
"Temple's such as these are imbued with the power of the darkside. It makes us stronger when in close proximity. It amplifies our abilities beyond that which is normal for a force user. However, those so entrenched in the light, such as your Jedi friends may find themselves weakened in this place. Prolonged exposure to this place may have unintended consequences."
Maul had not stopped talking since they had agreed to this alliance, if they could even call it that. His monologue had shifted from the architecture of the temple, to the past conflicts that had occurred in the temple. Now he was attempting to speak of the nature of the force and the effects the temple would have on their mind-sets. Ahsoka had barely been able to get a word in. Thus she opted to interrupt.
"Why are you talking to me this much? We both know you don't particularly like me. So what's with the meaningless talk?" She hadn't meant it to sound as aggressive as she did, but with the current situation, she had no time for games. If Maul was leading her in circles, she had no time for it.
"My apologies, I've been alone so long, trapped on this world. It's invigorating to have someone to talk to, regardless of our past." Maul's response surprised her. How long had he been here, by himself? Ahsoka discreetly checked him over. He was thinner than she remembered, slower too. The walking stick was proof of that. When was the last time he had eaten? Or slept properly. Maul's health was clearly not in the best shape. Yet his presence in the force was as strong as ever. She knew not to underestimate someone because of their appearance.
"How much further?" Ahsoka asked, growing tired of what seemed to be an endless walk in darkness.
"We are here." Maul responded as he approached a large stone door, one that clearly led deeper into the Malachor temple. Along the door, ominous glowing red lines pulsated. Clearly this door, like much of the architecture on Malachor, was imbued with the power of the darkside of the force.
"So, how do we get past it?" Ahsoka inquired, fearing the answer.
"Sith temples were often constructed with the rule of two in mind. They require cooperation between a master and apprentice to enter. Years ago, Lord Sidious and I attempted to gain access to this doorway, but were unsuccessful." Maul began. Clearly he had done his research. "However, together we may be able to open this door, and those beyond it. Unlike two Sith lords trying to enter, we are not in competition with one another. Instead we seek a common goal, and will work together to achieve it."
It made sense to Ahsoka. Sith were naturally distrusting, especially of one another. But while both Maul and she distrusted each other, they were willing to cooperate, rather than being forced to as many Sith were.
Ahsoka lifted her hand, channelling the force. She pictured the door opening in her mind, and focused on that image. The door began to budge, ever so slightly, then stopped. It was resisting her! The door was resisting her connection to the force!
"I can't lift it, its too heavy." She spoke to Maul, who looked back at her inquisitively.
"That is because the door is controlled by the darkside of the force. In order to open it, you must tap into the wellspring of anger you have hidden within you."
To Ahsoka, it seemed Maul was merely repeating darkside rhetoric he had been taught. Was this his way of testing her.
"Why can't you do it?" She growled back at the Zabrak.
"There are multiple doors beyond this one. Each require one individual to hold them open, while the other progresses to the next door. We will alternate between the doors as we proceed through." Maul responded calmly. Despite her obvious frustration at the situation, Maul was clearly giving her the benefit of the doubt.
Ahsoka lifted her arm again, trying in vain to lift the door. It still wouldn't lift. It still resisted her.
"Use your anger, your hatred, your pain. Only then will you be able to open the door." Maul whispered.
Ahsoka tried again, still with no success.
"Remember those that betrayed you. The council who kicked you out. The clones who attacked you. Your master who betrayed you." Maul snarled, clearly trying to aggravate Ahsoka.
It worked.
The door began to shift as images filled Ahsoka's mind. The Jedi Council, so ready to believe that she was a traitor. Barriss Offee, her friend, one of her only friends, had framed her and left her for dead. The clones on Mandalore, who betrayed her. And Anakin. The man he had become. The monster he had become.
The door was open, and Maul proceeded, using his power to open the next. Ahsoka proceeded, dropping the previous door behind her, shifting her attention to the next one.
They worked in tandem for the next few minutes. Ahsoka would open a door, and Maul would open the next.
After what seemed like a year, the final door was opened, and the two proceeded through, Maul allowing the door to slam behind them.
They both collapsed onto their knees, mentally and physically exhausted from the strain the doors had placed upon them.
Despite the situation, they had overcome the first major hurdle. They were one step closer to their goal.
It was then that Ahsoka turned to look at Maul, fire in her eyes.
"How did you know about Anakin?!"