The heat of an exploding thermal detonator rushed over Anakin as he pivoted his saber, clashing against the crimson blade before him, redirecting the swing away from his body as he countered, eviscerating his foe in the process.

The group had barely made it two steps from the chamber's exit when they had been attacked once more by the ghost-like beings of fallen Sith. Whether or not Maul had summoned these ones too was unknown to Anakin, but right now that didn't matter.

What did matter was carving his way through those that stood between him and Ahsoka's safety. He had promised her that he'd never let anyone hurt her, and he fully intended to keep that promise.

Content that his current opponent was disposed of, Anakin turned his attention to where Rex was standing side by side with Masana, blasters firing towards a pair of approaching ghosts as the Dowutin braced to clash sabers if they got close. There had originally been five of them before the Clone Captain had thrown one of the thermal detonators he had been carrying in hopes of leveling the playing field. Clearly it had worked.

Confident that Rex and Masana could handle the threat, Anakin turned his attention to Bil, who was busy dueling a ghost wielding a saber staff. The Jedi Knight's blue saber moved with ease to parry each strike, but was yet to find an opening in the onslaught. Anakin could rectify that.

Moving forward Anakin lunged with his blade towards the spirit attacking Bil, who sensed Anakin's approach at the last minute. The spirit barely had time to turn and deflect Anakin's attack, causing it to stumble in the process, and create an opening for Bil to strike.

The grey skinned Jedi moved his own blade forward once again, slicing directly into the ghost's back and taking it out of the fight, before throwing a grateful nod over at Anakin for the assistance, one that Anakin returned.

The sudden sound of a blaster bolt whizzing past Anakin's ear alerted him to the presence of what had been a ghost trying to sneak up behind him. Luckily for Anakin, Rex had been able to spot and assist with it before it became a problem.

"Thanks Rex!"

"Anytime Sir!"

Moving back towards his loyal Clone Captain, Anakin brought his blade forward to assist Masana, who was dueling two ghosts at once. The Dowutin was powerful, no doubt about that, but even still Anakin felt the need to help his friend.

Continuing to clash against the crimson saber of the foe before him, Anakin soon found himself in a saber lock with said opponent, a saber lock that was abruptly ended by the sudden appearance of Bil, who slipped beneath the ghost's defence with his saber, bisecting it in the process and repaying the favour to Anakin with a nod of his head.

A roar of rage erupted from Masana a moment later as she too bypassed the defences of her opponent, quite literally disarming them in the process, before decapitating them with a swift swing of her lightsaber.

The sounds of several successive clashes behind him drew Anakin's attention. Spinning on his heels the Jedi Knight was able to witness Windu duel his own foe for a brief moment, before he vanquished it just as he had done many others before.

And then, just as quickly as the violence had erupted, it ended, leaving the team in a hallway devoid of life, aside from their own.

"We must move. Maul already has a considerable lead on us." Windu spoke with determination, extinguishing his lightsaber and beginning to resume the route he was following, thanks to the Force guiding his way.

Having no objection, and trusting in Windu to lead them to his Padawan, Anakin followed.

"I thought holocrons were repositories of information, not keys to superweapons?"

The harsh chuckle that Maul gave in response as he led them over to the ascending staircase in the corner of the room they were in held no humour. In fact, it felt a lot like he was mocking her for something. Was the question she had asked a stupid one or something?

"Perhaps Jedi holocrons are simple storage units, but Sith ones are far more than that. In the past, Sith holocrons have been used to house many things. Some are information libraries, as you said, others are tools, or keys. There are even legends of some holocrons being used to contain spirits of formidable Sith after the destruction of their physical forms to ensure their resurgence." Maul began to explain as he ascended the steps, throwing a smirk back in her direction in the process. Through the Force Ahsoka could feel a sense of… something. What, she couldn't tell, but it was clearly coming from Maul, and whatever it was he was trying to hide it from her.

Was he perhaps planning to betray her? She wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

"And this holocron is what powers that crystal?" Ahsoka ventured, gesturing towards where she and Maul had stood moments earlier, surveying the corrupted crystal.

"In a manner of…"

Maul stopped mid sentence, his entire body halting mid step as well. His eyes widened suddenly, if only for a moment, and his signature in the Force halted, mental shields snapping up suddenly in response to a rush of the dark side of the Force. Ahsoka too felt the sudden burst, one that she assumed came from the corrupted crystal in the central chamber, causing her to groan in pain, one hand coming up to clutch her head briefly, before it faded away.

It seemed that simply being in the presence of the corrupted crystal was enough to have a detrimental effect on anyone, including Sith Lords.

"We must proceed quickly." Maul finally spoke after a few moments, regaining his composure and continuing up the stairs. It didn't escape Ahsoka's attention that he hadn't answered her previous query. Had he forgotten, or was it not important? Perhaps she had simply answered her own question and he did not feel the need to answer it.

Having no choice but to follow, Ahsoka began to move forward herself, ascending the steps.

By the time she had reached the top, which led to another level that overlooked the large central chamber where the corrupted crystal was located, Maul had already completed his surveying of their surroundings, and his eyes were locked on something ahead.

Following his eye, Ahsoka saw it.

At the far end of the chamber, resting on a plinth with energy coursing through it was a small pyramid object that glowed bright red.

The Sith holocron.

"Be cautious. This is too easy." Maul spoke beside her, his golden eyes glancing back and forth between the holocron and the crystal, as if looking for something.

"You think it's a trap?"

"It would be foolish of us to assume otherwise."

"Fair point."

Maul huffed in response before his hands moved to his waist, extracting what looked like a ration bar from a pouch in his robe in the process, testing the weight of it in his hands as Ahsoka looked on with interest.

A few seconds later, Maul huffed again, this time clearly content. Ahsoka watched as the Zabrak reared his arm back and threw it forward, sending it flying towards where the holocron sat.

Except, the bar never reached the holocron, not as a bright flash of purple lightning erupted before them, vaporizing the ration bar in the process and effectively blocking their path to the holocron in the process.

"Very clever." Maul spoke softly, admiration in his voice as his eyes analyzed the purple bolts before them. The stream continued for a few moments before it faded away, leaving the path to the holocron clear once more. "That energy was drawn from the crystal itself as a last line of defense. If the crystal senses someone or something approaching the holocron…"

"It vaporizes them on sight. Lovely." Ahsoka finished his sentence, eyes moving over to the corrupted crystal, watching as the same purple lightning coursed through its surface, waiting for another unwitting victim to approach the source of its power.

"How the hell are we gonna get the holocron then?" Ahsoka questioned, trying to find a solution. They couldn't brute force this one, that was clear to her. Any attempt to approach the holocron would result in death, and it didn't look like there were any other alternate routes to it either.

Were they perhaps stuck? Had they missed some clue somewhere? Had they come all this way for nothing?

"It is another test, one for a Master and an Apprentice." Maul replied, his tone confident in what needed to be done.

"How do you know it's a test… and what sort of test is it?" Ahsoka asked, unsure where Maul was going with this. And how were they supposed to pass whatever the test was anyways? They weren't exactly Master and Apprentice!

'So… the Shrine doesn't know that! Maybe you could fool whatever the trap is into thinking you are Maul's Sith Apprentice! How hard could it be?' Ahsoka's mind whispered, as if encouraging her to play along with the ridiculous ruse it was suggesting. She didn't like the idea of pretending to be a Sith, but she had to admit it was a good idea.

"A final test. We cannot use the Force to summon the holocron to us. It would fight back. The only way to remove it from it's cradle is by hand." Maul began to explain, turning to face her with a serious look on his face.

"But if we approach we'll end up vapourized like that ration bar!" Ahsoka countered, placing her hands on her hips. Had Maul not seen what had happened?

"Not if one of us holds back the energy discharge long enough for the other to retrieve the holocron."

Now that was a surprise! Maul was actually suggesting that! If whoever held the discharge at bay faltered, even for a second, they would both be vapourized. Likewise, the person who retrieved the holocron would be practically holding the other one hostage!

Now Ahsoka understood what this 'final test' was about. It was one of absolute trust between two individuals.

It was a clever plan, when she thought about it. Sith were naturally distrusting, especially of their own apprentices. It was the way of the Sith to subvert and scheme against one another. No Sith Master fully trusted their apprentice, and likewise no Sith Apprentice fully trusted their Master.

Unlike with the Jedi, where a Master-Apprentice bond was formed out of mutual respect and faith, a Sith bond was one of subterfuge, always looking to gain an edge over their so called 'partner'.

That was what made this 'final test' so dangerous to Sith. Both sides would have no faith in the other to keep them safe, and thus the holocron would never be removed from it's cradle.

But Ahsoka was no Sith, nor was she a Jedi. And whilst she didn't trust Maul, and knew Maul did not trust her either, she knew that they had a common goal in mind, one they would both willingly work towards together.

"Are you suggesting…" Ahsoka began, making sure she had the assumption right. She didn't want to presume of course, and Maul was far more knowledgeable about such things than she was. He was a Sith Lord after all.

"Yes. We approach together and hold back the energy. Once we are stable, you will retrieve the holocron whilst I continue to hold. Once you have the holocron…"

"I'll come back and help again, ensuring we both escape alive."

"Precisely."

Ahsoka had to ask. She had to know.

"Do you really trust me enough to not grab the holocron and run?"

"Do you trust me enough to get you to it safely?"

"Nope."

"Good. Because I do not trust you either. However, we share a common goal, and I intend to retrieve my prize. There are no other options available to us."

Maul had a point, and she knew that time was running out. Even if the crystal had only rendered the Temple residents unconscious, who knew what sort of effect it was having on them whilst they were in slumber. They might not even wake up!

And if that was the case… then the Republic would have lost their most vital asset in the war against the Separatists.

She had to do this. She had to work with Maul, and even trust him, no matter how badly her mind told her not to.

Glancing over at the holocron once more, Ahsoka did a quick mental calculation.

The holocron was roughly twenty to thirty meters away from them, and no doubt the energy discharge covered at least twenty five of those meters. She and Maul would have to work together to hold back the energy as they approached, but also as they escaped. And when she broke her hold on the energy to retrieve the holocron, Maul would have to hold it off himself, if only for a few brief seconds.

She really hoped he was as powerful as Obi-Wan made him out to be, or else they'd both be fried!

"I guess this is what we are doing then."

"I hesitate to use the word 'excellent', considering the circumstances. Are you ready?" Maul replied, turning his attention to the holocron, and then to the crystal in the central chamber, a fierce look of determination burning in his golden eyes.

"I am." Ahsoka replied, taking a deep breath in the process. This was not going to be easy.

Maul chose to nod his head in reply, rather than offer a verbal one. Why, Ahsoka didn't know. Perhaps he was scared of what was to come. She knew she was, not that she would admit it, especially not to him!

Taking another deep breath to calm herself, Ahsoka nodded back.

Maul stepped forward first, his cybernetic legs moving slowly and with caution, as if he was testing the metaphorical waters.

When no discharge of energy erupted from the crystal, he moved forward another step, with Ahsoka following beside him.

Again, no discharge occurred, and so the Zabrak moved forward again, another cautious step.

Maul managed to take three more cautious steps forward before Ahsoka began to feel even more uneasy that she already was. Why hadn't…

"Tano! Brace!"

Maul's cry of panic alerted Ahsoka to the sudden change in the corrupted crystal. On the side facing them, purple energy built up rapidly before it discharged towards them, purple lightning speeding towards them.

Delving deep into the Force, Ahsoka pivoted her body to face the incoming energy and pushed forward with her hands, attempting to block the incoming stream of energy with everything she had! Maul too was in a similar position, his palms facing towards the stream of energy, redirecting it round their bodies, shielding them from harm.

The strain was immense, and for a few moments Ahsoka felt her hands and arms burning, even underneath her armour. She could already imagine the blisters that would be forming once this was all over… assuming she survived that was.

"Keep moving forward! We cannot delay!" Maul cried over the discharge of energy, continuing to move his feet to the side, taking them closer and closer to the holocron. Not wanting to be left behind, Ahsoka followed.

As the steps increased, so did the strain. Beneath her armor, her body began to burn, despite the energy being redirected around her and Maul. She wondered if he too was feeling the same strain as she was. He was even more exposed than she was.

Once again, she thanked her armor, even if it didn't feel like it was working at that moment.

Ahsoka didn't know how long it took them to come within grasping distance of the holocron, but she didn't care. The very act of holding such ferocious energy at bay, even with the help of Maul was enough to make even a few steps feel like hours.

"Tano! Go now! I will hold it!"

"You sure?" Ahsoka called back, not liking the idea. There were still several meters away from the holocron after all, and she couldn't protect herself for long away from Maul.

"Go! I will shield you!"

"What about you?"

"I will shield us both then! Now hurry up!"

Understanding the urgency and anger in his voice, Ahsoka did as she was told.

Dropping her arms and her focus on the Force felt like heavenly release, though this was not the case for Maul, who instantly fell to his knees and groaned briefly, before pushing himself back up to his feet, redoubling his efforts. Ahsoka knew he was holding off the full strength by himself now, and that he wouldn't last long. She had to move fast!

Moving as swiftly as she could, Ahsoka covered the last five meters to the plinth that held the Sith holocron and wrapped her hands around it, before lifting it.

The change was instantaneous. The energy discharge that had been crashing into Maul faded, allowing him to relax now that he was no longer in danger. The crystal at the center of the chamber changed too. No longer did it possess energy coursing through its surface. Instead it simply sat there, pulsing a dark red that had resulted from its corruption, but otherwise inert.

Sighing in relief, Ahsoka began to move away from the plinth, gazing down at the Sith holocron that rested in her hands. The small pyramid object pulsed red much like the crystal, a clear sign of the dark side raging within it. No doubt the secrets it contained had been hidden for a good reason. It was no wonder Maul wanted it.

"Is that it then? Is it done?" Ahsoka asked, directing her attention to Maul as the Zabrak pushed himself to his feet, eyes surveying the now inert crystal before he turned to face her, a smirk on his face.

"It is. With the holocron removed from its cradle, the weapon will power down. The Jedi in the Temple above will return to a state of consciousness."

Something about this was too easy, Ahsoka knew that. Even if the weapon was now offline, the effect it had had on the Temple and those that resided in it would not be something that went away overnight. Surely there had to be some sort of long lasting consequence?

"This seems too easy." Ahsoka replied, voicing her concerns aloud to perhaps the one person she shouldn't. Maul couldn't be trusted, she knew that.

But still, he had protected her and helped her achieve this goal. Even if it was mainly to achieve his own selfish aims, she still had to recognize his willingness to work with her to this point.

The only question was what happened now? They had completed their mission. The Temple was safe. Did she now just give him the holocron and they go their separate ways?

"Tempting, isn't it? The power within such a relic, be it Jedi or Sith!"

Maul's words brought her out of her inner thoughts, his eyes glancing down at the holocron in her hands, a pensive look on his face. It was clear he wanted the holocron, but he hadn't yet asked for it directly. Why was that?

"I don't know what you mean."

"Do you not feel the desire to open it? To unlock the secrets within? Who knows what information you might find inside. Perhaps knowledge that will help end the Clone War. Or perhaps something else. Go ahead, I will grant you this reward."

Behind her helmet, Ahsoka's eyes widened in surprise. Was Maul really offering her what she thought he was? A chance to open a Sith holocron? To learn the secrets inside?

She shouldn't… she knew that. Sith holocrons were reportedly very very dangerous. The information inside could drive even the strongest of minds insane. Many a Sith of old had been created simply by opening such a relic.

But the information within… when would anyone have another chance to look aside from Maul?

And what if he was right? What if there was vital information within? What if she could use it to…

No! No… that was not who she was. She might no longer be a Jedi, but she was not a Sith either.

'All the more reason to open it! What damage could it possibly do. You're not a Jedi anymore after all. You said so yourself!' The voice in her mind whispered, encouraging her.

How would she even open a Sith holocron though? Was it the same as a Jedi holocron? Did she use the Force to do so? Would she have to use the dark side?

"You are tempted… aren't you?" Maul spoke again, remaining where he was, watching, waiting. The longer he remained still and undemanding of the holocron, the more it unnerved her.

"I admit that I am. But I'm not going to open it. I wouldn't know how to." Ahsoka replied, honestly coming out of her without hesitation. Why had she done that?

"Of course not. The Jedi Order limits the training of their students, just as the Sith do. As much as they claim to be mortal enemies, they share far more in common than either will admit."

"What do you mean?" Ahsoka inquired, raising her head from where the holocron rested in her hands, locking her eyes with Maul's.

"The Master fears the student's power, but they need the student to progress themselves. It is an inevitable power struggle, one the Sith freely admit to, but one the Jedi deny."

"No, a Jedi Master and Padawan bond is a sacred one. There is no desire to sabotage and overthrow each other."

"Perhaps not by the individuals, but what of the High Council?"

"I don't follow." Ahsoka responded, growing more and more confused.

The Zabrak let out a sigh before continuing. He wasn't growing impatient with her, not yet at least. If anything the sigh had been one of disappointment.

"I saw your memories Tano. I saw how the Council has treated both you and your Master Skywalker. They fear you. They seek to undermine you, to belittle you, to limit your power. By removing you from the Order, they also sought to weaken Skywalker's position to ensure he could not pose a threat to them."

"A threat?! Anakin isn't a threat!"

"Isn't he? He is the prodigal 'Chosen One' is he not? A being of that power, ascending through the ranks of the Jedi Order at the rate he has… perhaps the High Council members are worried their positions will soon be usurped."

"No that's…. that's wrong and… they wouldn't…."

"Wouldn't they? They cast you aside without blinking an eye. Would they not do something similar to Skywalker if they had the chance?"

Ahsoka wanted to deny Maul's words. She knew that logically the Council would never do such a thing! They would never hinder or sabotage someone within their Order on purpose. That was not the Jedi way at all!

But the more emotional part of her, the part that flashed images of her trial, of the Council's apathy at how she was treated suggested otherwise. If they were willing to sacrifice her for their own safety... what else would they be willing to do?

"Tell me Tano, when this war ends, and the powers that be move on, what will you do then? What will you do when Sheev Palpatine leaves the office of Supreme Chancellor? Continue to serve him? Swear loyalty to the next Chancellor? Or perhaps you will be lost once again, like me."

"I…"

"Tano, I tell you this, not because I care, but because I know what it is like to have nothing, and to try to rebuild everything, only to lose it again. You might have something now, but you will lose it. It is the way of life. There is no happiness, no justice, no law or order or even peace in this galaxy. There is only survival."

Maul's words were more profound than anything she had ever expected from him. He was a lunatic, but his words… they made a sick sort of sense. She had seen first hand how bad the galaxy had gotten during the Clone War. Yes, there were pockets of hope now and then, but the vast majority of it was nothing but despair and hopelessness.

For now, she had a purpose, a mission. But what would she do once that mission had been fulfilled? What role would she have to play? Would she again be lost, just like she had been when she left the Temple the first time, with hardly a credit in her pocket and the clothes on her back?

She didn't want to go back to that… not again… not when she had a purpose.

She wouldn't go back to that! She refused to!

"We were both tools, I see that now. But as tools we have survived and flourished. We have become so much more than what our 'Masters' intended us to be. We have broken free of their chains, and forged our own destinies, our own paths! Paths that have led us to this." Maul spoke again, gesturing to the Shrine around them, before indicating towards the holocron in her hands.

Ahsoka glanced down briefly at the relic once more, before looking back at him again, eyes staring at Maul as he did the last thing she had ever expected him to do.

He held out his hand and spoke.

"Every choice you have made, has led you to this moment."

Author's thoughts

I know... I know... been a while. I've been busy and stuff. Sorry. Hopefully this chapter made up for it a bit! XD

This chapter took a while to build up to, but hopefully all the revelations, as well as the Ahsoka and Maul dynamic was fun to read. I had this entire story planned before Season 7 of Clone Wars was even announced, and I always had it in mind that Maul would pull the old 'become my new apprentice' card at this point of the story. Season 7 of Clone Wars merely gave me some inspiration and material that I could use and bend in a way to fit this story, hence the paraphrasing of one line in this chapter, as well as outright mimicking of another. Maul is, at this point, still trying to find a way to gain more power, and if he could corrupt Ahsoka to his side, in his mind he has achieved more power. Whether or not he truly would care about her like he did Savage is another thing entirely. I guess we will have to wait and see what path Ahsoka chooses huh?

The scene involving gaining the holocron was fun to write. Ancient Sith sure do love their trap protected holocrons huh?

Aside from all that I don't really have much left to say. Only one chapter left in this story arc now, and it's a long one... at least the draft of it is. Lots of crazy action in the next chapter that's for sure.

Thanks once again to my beta reader 'ArrinSnyders' for his help and patience. He continues to be vital to this stories seeming success.

Next time round, Anakin and the other rush to save Ahsoka, whilst Ahsoka gives Maul an answer. But will it be the answer he expects?

As usual, comment and speculate at will. Speaking of which:

whiteabyss89: Not gonna lie... you and me both, probably for different reasons though. Sorry if you aren't enjoying it. Hopefully the next arc will be more to your tastes.

Cat-Gods-Of-The-Cat-People: Heh! No problem. I'm glad you were still able to understand it, even if you were a bit drunk! XD

IanAphaAxel: Thanks! I appreciate that! XD

the Mandalorian terminator: I'm glad you got 'old master' vibes from Maul, because that was exactly what I was going for. Maul is a fascinating guy when he's not being pure evil! XD
And yeah, Rex isn't the sort to hold something against someone based on who they know or who trained them. Masana has proved she is nothing like Pong Krell, and Rex respects that. XD

tf330129: Doing my best. :)

RyanSquad: Don't count Anakin out just yet/anytime soon. He is the main character of the story alongside Ahsoka. It would be pretty stupid of me to kill him off this early!
That said, I hope you like the direction I go with the story in the end. :)
And don't worry... there will be no Anisoka or Vadersoka in this story (sorry shippers... nothing against you lot). I prefer them as the best of friends instead. Plus Anakin had Padmé in this story. :)
Those are some interesting predictions you've got there though. I guess only time will tell if you are right or not. :)