Chapter 40

Visions & Voices

LOTHO MINOR

The Forge

"What have you done to my baby!" Lord Jaybo Hood cried out looking at the Revenant, it's multiple battle scars, chipped paint, dents, and scratches. "It's not as bad as it seems." Ahkilleon said arms folded next to the Forge Lord, Sabine was next to the ship looking over the manifest of weapons, parts, and supplies for Phoenix Squadron. The Forge itself was still being operated by droids and majority Junker's native to Lothominor. The droids and the cyborgs were working in sync all around the forge to build warships and more from the mountains of scrap and junk from their homeworld.

Jaybo glowered at Ahkilleon, "I'm adding some spare parts and buffing units to your haul, next time you drop by I want that ship spotless, Commander." "As you wish my lord, how are things here, the extra orders taking their toll?" Ahkilleon asked looking out across the shipyard, the hangar they were in was so big it was feeding an assembly line above of Hawk fighters getting wings attached, then cockpit and engines all in one loop. "If not for the junkers we would be, I tell you Ahkilleon they make ugnots green. But don't tell any of them I said that."

Ahkilleon nodded "You'll need to come with me to the shipyards on Arcadia, they put this whole ring to shame." "I've yet to go, haven't been back in a while." Ahkilleon said.

"I know, you've been busy, Demon, Tiger of the Militia, what's next?" Jaybo asked him.

Ahkilleon looked over at Sabine and then to Jaybo, "Rebelfriend wouldn't be bad, just hoping they've forgiven or forgotten the Iron Squadron fiasco." "Was that one where you faced down six rebel commandos in single combat?" Jaybo asked.

Puzzled, he turned to him "Hey, that's what I heard."

"It was one Commander, I'm actually looking forward to seeing the look on his face when he discovers we're the same rank." Ahkilleon said as droid finished loading up cargo containers, they magnetically locked onto the lower wings of the Revenant as it prepared for take off. "Time to go." Sabine said walking up "With these supplies Phoenix Squadron will be hard pressed to find anything more to steal." Ahkileon said confidently.

Sabine rolled her eyes, "Come on." She said, "Not without me." an old lizard said, Ahkilleon turned his head around and saw walking toward them in his brown trench coat his rifle slung over his back was "Turok." Ahkilleon said, walking up to the old lizard and giving him a hug.

"What are you doing here?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Hitched a ride with the Cyberspiders, they're resupplying after another Hutt merc army attacked them on Nar Sho Bar." Turok said.

"What have you been doing in hutt space?" Sabine asked him, the Trandoshan eyed her with his glassy eye, "That's classified Sabine, come on time to see if those rebels haven't messed everything up."

ATOLLON

Chopper Base

The Revenant descended down past the rebel fleet to Atollon, the barren desert world dotted with behemoth coral trees, the rebel base had grown since they'd last been there. There were more ships both imperial and modified civilian, even a few old republic war ships. The central part of the base had metal walkways laid out on the rock and sand to make it more level. When the Militia ship set down, Ahkilleon noticed a large dust storm not far from the base moving toward them at a steady pace. "Glad we missed that." Ahkilleon said getting up.

Sabine got up too, looking out the window, where she saw something that made her face twist "Uh oh." Sabine said, Ahkilleon looked out to see Commander Sato heading toward the bridge with what looked like the entire troop contingent of Phoenix Squadron all blue and green clas soldiers with blaster rifles.

"Let's get this over with." Ahkilleon muttered.

Sabine followed Ahkilleon out of the ship with the rest of the crew and soldiers they brought with them, including Yumi and Corto. "Let me talk to them." Sabine said as the two groups met, the Tigers were outnumbered ten to one at Sato's Phoenixs. Among them were Hera, Kanan, Ezra, Zeb and Chopper.

"Commander?" Sabine asked.

Sato said nothing he passed her "What's going on?" Sabine asked Hera, "You didn't think Sato would just forget about what happened with his nephew did you?" Hera asked Sabine.

Commander Sato walked up to Ahkilleon and stood six feet apart from him, Sato's men were gathered together at the ready while the Militia had formed two lines of a dozen behind Ahkilleon, Breacher and Turok. "Commander Sato." Ahkilleon said "I've brought you more supplies."

Sato gritted his teeth, hands behind his back, Ahkilleon had both hands on his lightsabers, either by force of habit or as a warning, "We thank the Militia, Captain Ta-" "That's Commander Tano to you." Lt. Breacher corrected him.

"Lad's been promoted." Turok said smoking his pipe smirking at Sato.

It only seemed to inflame Sato even more, "Very well, Commander Tano, we thank you for your gift, you may go now." Ahkilleon tilted his head, "Yeah, now conditions, the High Command want to test out some new weapons, droids, etc. and as the official liaison to the Phoenix Squadron, I have to stay." Ahkilleon said, his voice was wiry as he tried not to enjoy this.

"What?" Sato asked, "Under no circumstances are you staying here." Sato tensed up.

"Are you going to make me leave with this?" Ahkilleon said, looking at the Phoenix Squadron troopers in front of him. He looked at one who was holding his blaster with itchy fingers "You, trooper, what are you?" he asked.

The trooper looked at Sato who nodded at him "I'm a… mechanic sir." Ahkilleon looked at another, one in green "You?" "I was- I am a lawyer."

"Lawyer?" Ahkilleon nodded "You there?" Ahkilleon asked one of the taller ones, "A radio technician."

Ahkilleon nodded, "Militia!"

All the Militia dropped their bags and raised their blasters up "INVICTUS-INVICTUS-INVICTUS!" Ahkilleon took a step toward Sato, "I'll ask again, do you think you can make us leave?"

"Oh for the love of the force, can we stop!" Corto pushed through the line of Militia, he shook his head, his brown locks waving around his head "If you two are done wagging your dicks. Do we need to unload this shipment?" Corto barked at the two of them.

Both Sato and Ahkilleon had locked eyes, like bulls locking horns "We didn't come here to fight, we came as allies, right?" Corto asked.

"... Right." Ahkilleon said relenting, "Lt. Breacher have the droids unload the shipments, Turok find our men a place to stay. Unless we can't?" Ahkilleon asked Sato.

Sato grunted, "You will have none of our facilities while your here."

"That's fair, we like to be independent." Turok said, walking away with the men.

Sato and his men disembarked returning to the base, Ahkilleon looked over at the Rebels, Hera shook her head, Zeb rolled his eyes at the whole 'dick swinging', Ezra cocked a brow, arms folded while Sabine just looked at him blankly. As he approached, Yumi and Corto followed him, "Nice, real nice." Sabine scolded.

"Oh don't act he and I are friends?" Ahkilleon said.

"Sato's place is as our leader and he deserves respect on his base." Hera pointed out to him.

Ahkilleon thought it over "His base? The one that Chopper found, that Sabine made safe, that Ezra and Kanan saved and the one you believed could make a home out of, what has Sato done here except bark orders?" Ahkilleon asked.

"He does have a point." Zeb muttered.

"No he doesn't, he just has an ego, I'm not calling you Commander, Princess." Ezra said, walking up smirking, "I wouldn't expect you to, Lothrat." Ahkilleon teased punching him in the shoulder playfully.

Yumi looked at Corto who just shrugged it off, "You've met Yumi and Corto?" "Yeah, the tattle tale." Zeb grunted looking at Yumi who frowned, knowing full well she had informed the Militia about Ahkilleon going after Maul, and it caused him to be whipped for his disobedience. "She did her duty, nothing more, I don't begrudge her for it." Ahkilleon said, making Yumi stare at him at such forgiveness even though she never asked for it.

"Master Jarrus, I have something for you on behalf of the New Jedi." she said, walking forward reaching into her bed.

Kanan held his hand up "It's just Kanan, and no I'm not joining." Yumi chuckled and even laughed "What, oh no, no, no. Master K'Kruhk has told me you aren't interested but he did wish to give you copies of the sacred texts and some holopads for your padawan, Ezekiel Broger was it?" she asked.

"Ezra Bridger." Ezra corrected her.

"Ah." She said holding out a stack of holopads and books tied together with leather bindings. "Um, you know I can't see right?" Kanan asked her.

Yumi frowned "Uh, yes but your padawan can?" She asked him flustered.

"Subtle sis." Corto said with his eyes catching something in the distance, he noticed a Krykna close to the fence that Sabine had built, it didn't cross because of the signal that it sent from post to post. "You'll excuse me, I'm going to get lunch."

As he went, Yumi bowed to Kanan and backed up, "I should go help Lt. Breacher and his men." Yumi said before she left.

"Is she going to be staying long?" Zeb asked.

Ahkilleon shook his head, "No, Yumi and Corto will head back out with the next shipment. They're mom grounded them." "Grounded?" Ezra scoffed.

Ahkilleon shrugged "A lot changed, I'm sure you heard about Naboo?" "We did, and Vader's return." Kanan said.

Ahkilleon nodded, "We lost many men, but we found something great, Kanan, the Great Holocron." Kanan's mouth gapped "What?" "There are more holocrons?" Zeb asked him.

"Not just any Holocron, the Great Holocron held millennia worth of knowledge, I never used it myself but my Master Bilapa told me it was one of the most sacred relics of the Jedi." Kanan said to them.

"It's safe on Arcadia, the Militia is changing tactics to reinforce our positons, and work more together with our fleets. Our main goal is to support Phoenix Squadron and its continued goal of liberating Lothal." Ahkilleon reached into his belt and pulled out a data disk "These are the latest fleet movements, and intel Caliban's gathered." Ahkilleon gave it to Hera.

She looked it over and glanced at him "I'll verify this without our own sources." She said with gritted teeth.

"In the meantime, I'll go get my men settled in and let me know when the next briefing is." Ahkilleon said walking back to his men.

He turned to go and the rebels watched him, "Uff they made him a Commander, not going to get use to that." Zeb muttered.

"I was a Commander in the Clone Wars, and I never got used to it." Kanan said to him walking away, Ezra followed them leaving Sabine, Hera and Chopper.

Chopper squawked out something and it made Hera smirk "Maybe?" "Chopper." Sabine scowled at the droid, "You know he won't, you won't right?" Hera asked, looking at the droid who had a malicious twinkle in its optics.

Chopper rolled out away from them, "So Naboo, how bad was it, we've seen reports from the Empire Militia burned Theed to the ground." Sabine cocked a brow, "They planned to, but I- Ahkilleon convinced them to spare the city from orbital bombardment, it was only during the evacuation the Empire started to bomb the city." "Did you see the TIE fighters?" Hera asked.

"What do you mean?" Sabine asked the pilot, Hera shook her head "Nothing, I'm just glad your back safe." She patted Sabine on the shoulder where she'd been stabbed by the Imperial guard and Sabine flinched.

"Sabine?" Hera asked worriedly, Sabine just smiled. "It's nothing, Corto patched me up, I hope that his sister brought some books on how to teach Ezra and Kanan that trick." Sabine said, trying to quickly change the subject. Hera glared at Sabine with her stern motherly eyes "You were just supposed to observe." Sabine shrugged "I did observe, but they were going after the Imperial retreat, we could have gained access to the Emperor's private files, risk was worth it-" "The risk was too great, you know what someone like, like Vader can do." Hera nodded "I do, remember?" Sabine held up her helmet still sporting the dent from when Darth Vader had deflected a blaster laser she'd loosed at him right back into her helmet any lower and it would have broken the black glass of her T visor.

"And you were injured." Hera pointed out.

"I just got stabbed." "Stabbed!" Hera yelped "Sabine I know your tough and stars if you say your a Mandalorian to justify it I will ground you!" she snapped.

Sabine rolled her eyes scoffing "I'm back now, what's the big deal?" "The big deal is your part of the rebellion, not the Militia?" "I'm here aren't I?" Sabine snapped back.

Hera held her hands up ready to shout but dropped her arms and drooped her shoulders "Yes… you are." Sabine said "and I'm glad you are."

That's when Sabine saw all this frustration and anger was born out of Hera's worry and fear for Sabine's safety, "I better go get the stuff we brought unloaded." Sabine said before patting Hera on the arm.

Later, Ahkilleon and his men or Tano's Tigers were hard at work at the edge of the base closest to the fence, like Sato said they weren't given any quarters to bunk with the rebels, so they began to build their own. With the supplies they'd brought with them they started to unfold crates and began setting up tents, barracks and starting to dig up the hard rock with pickaxes and shovels to clear away the rocks, piling them into sacks to build small walls around it. The B5 battle droids that they'd left had also come to work and the men were soon putting up a small village of tents and barracks of metal walls used from the crates, reinforced with the sandbags. They formed a small ring around a larger tent elevated on a hill where the Militia Hex flag flew, its laurel reef around it with a crossed blaster and sword.

Ahkilleon had taken off his armor and disrobed his upper body so his sweat wouldn't stain his clothes, he glistened in the sun, bringing a pick axe down on a stubborn boulder cracking it, he tossed the stones away with his bare hands and noticed Sabine walking by with a holopad, the manifest for the shipments. She looked over at him and stared for a bit, Ahkilleon smiled and leaned the pick against his shoulder reaching up with his otehr hand to hold it near the axe head. It just sop happen to make his arm muscles bulge. She rolled her eyes adjusting her hair and hiding her own smile as she headed away.

"I'm worried." Hera said arms folded, "About the Militia, or about-" "All of it, the reports from Caliban are accurate, more accurate then our own." she said as she looked at Kanan who stood beside her.

"I thought you wanted people to work together against the Empire?" Kanan asked.

"I… I do, but the Militia, Kanan I'm not a politician but I do know that the large scale war they started doesn't fix anything." She said looking down at the Militia, "For now it's just over two dozen, what happens when the next shipment brings two thousand Militia?" "You're still worried if we take too much from them, we'll have to rely on the Militia for supplies?" Kanan asked her.

"Among other things." Hera muttered frowning at Ahkilleon who has one of his men bring him some water. "Those old stories you told me, of Jedi from the Old and High Republic, who fell to the dark side during war, what are our chances it'll happen again?"

Kanan sat there meditating, while Hera worried "... I don't know, but we won't know unless we try to work together, speaking off isn't the briefing happening soon?" Kanan asked as the storm clouds rolled in, heralded by thunder.

"Right, I better go get ready." Hera said, Kanan waited till she was gone he got up and headed down to the Militia camp. They had started digging walkways and trenches along the earth, moving the rocks over to make small barriers, larger rocks being set up along the edges to make the foundation of walls. When he got closer a few of Ahkilleon's men held their hammers and pickaxes up as if ready for a fight. When Ahkilleon noticed him, he sighed "Let's get this over with." he muttered.

"Can we talk?" Kanan asked him.

"Fine." Ahkilleon said he grabbed his sleeveless robe and threw it around his shoulders walking off with Kanan, he left the robe loose he grabbed a canteen of water and drank from it. Ahkilleon and Kanan walked away from the others out of ear shot and Ahkilleon stood there.

After a long silence, with thunder echoing in the distance Ahkilleon asked "What is it this time?" "How are you?" Kanan asked.

"... What?" Ahkilleon asked, sitting on a rock, not sure he heard him right "How are you doing, I wanted to check in after I heard what happened to Asimo- to your Master?" Kanan asked him.

Ahkilleon drank some more of the water, but didn't respond at first "Don't get me wrong, I don't care about Asimov, but I do know what it's like to worry for your Master, after I lost Master Bilapa I-" "I'm fine." Ahkilleon said curtly.

"You don't sound fine." Kanan replied.

"And what do I sound like?" Ahkilleon asked him, raising his defenses, "Like someone wanting to put up walls, and not let anyone in, almost anyone."

Ahkilleon sighed "Maybe I am, or maybe I'm doing what my Master would want me to do, keep pushing forward, keep fighting even while he can't."

"We honor our teachers in our own way, yes, the texts, the holopads I'll have to thank Padawan Vos-Ventress for them, I never really finished my training so it'll be good for Ezra to have them." Kanan said sitting down across from him.

Ahkilleon nodded "How's Ezra been?" "He's training a lot, I think he's wanting a rematch to that last fight you had?" Kanan asked him, Ahkilleon snickered "You two will have to come to Arcadia some time, plenty of Padawans he could wipe the floor with, and Jedi our age Kanan, you should see it. Bastion Temple towering over the mountains, its walls shining in the sunlight, it feels… like home." Ahkilleon said, shaking his head "I miss it." Kanan listened, "Still trying to get me to join?" "I'm trying to be the Jedi I need to be…" Ahkilleon didn't finish "The King, you think that's what you're destined for, to be a Jedi King?" Kanan asked him.

Ahkilleon looked away "I know if I don't lead by example, then how do I expect people to follow?" Ahkilleon looked back down to the Tigers still working "Those men, Breacher, Rulf, Jay and even Turok they all agreed to follow me without any fear. We took Theed, we didn't loose a single man if that's not the Force with us, what is it?" "I think it's your battle meditation?" Kanan said.

"So what if it is, the men see me, they see the Jedi fighting with them and we give them hope, is that so wrong?" Ahkilleon asked.

"I didn't come to talk about hope, or destiny Ahkilleon, I just wanted to see if you were okay?" Kanan asked him "Being a leader is more than speeches, or actions, it's about caring about those around you." Kanan got up and started to go "Thank you, Master Jarrus." Ahkilleon replied before Kanan left. Later, Kanan, Hera, Sabine, Zeb, Ezra, Chopper and Commander Sato were standing around the holotable, Ahkilleon had joined them showered and armored. Wind whistled outside the main base protected by the main structure, the dust had kicked up giving Atollon an eire pale green sky in it's background.

"Even though we still have some preparation to do before we link up with the Lothal rebels and Militia resistance, we'll need to know what they need." Hera said to everyone.

Ahkilleon held up the manifest, "We've got two thousand more E-7, five crates of rocket launchers, and schematics for updated droids they can build at their factories. Our last reports show the Militia maintain hold on the southern hemisphere and that Black Wolf Moon is still holding out." Ahkilleon explained.

Ezra tried to stay focused but he suddenly heard a dark voice "Ezra…" "I want to do a thorough recon trip to update our intel. There's no need for the full squadron. A small unit should be able to handle this. Ezra. I'm assigning you the mission,." Hera said as Ezra looked around for the one who spoke.

"Ezra… Ezra…." Ezra was looking toward the sound of the voice and saw something, a person in shadow?

Hera said his name, snapping him back to the briefing "Ezra?" He Gasped and Hera frowned "Care to join the briefing?" "Sorry. Yeah. No, it's just I... I thought I saw something." "This is your mission, Ezra. I need your full attention." Hera reminded him "Yeah, you've got it. Sorry." "All right. So first, you'll slip into the system and study the Empire's orbital defenses, the fleet there is massive but preoccupied with the moon base." Hera continued walking them through the plan

"Ezra." the voice called again.

Hera continued "We'll keep our distance, but gather all the data we can. I want Destroyer positions, TIE patrol routes, transport schedules... Ezra." he came back to the meeting and saw everyone was looking at him "Is something wrong?" Kanan asked him.

"No, I... I just... I thought I saw something, or someone." Ezra muttered, Hera continued the briefing "The recon team leaves as soon as we're loaded up. Questions?" "Is Admiral Thrawn there?" Sabine asked her, the Chiss Admiral had launched the attack on Lothal and retook the Capital while also waging a war against the Militia.

Hera focused on her and said "We have reports of an increase in capital ships, but no confirmation... Ezra." Hera said and she noticed Ezra was starring off into, Space, Ahkilleon followed his gaze and thought he saw something a person, transparent no, it wasn't anyone. "Ezra, what is it?" Kanan asked "Hey, kid. You feeling all right?" Zeb asked him.

"There! Look" Ezra held his hand up pointing to an empty space in the base.

Hera looked over her shoulder to where he was pointing "What am I looking at?" "You don't look very good." Zeb added, Ahkilleon started to let the force flow through him looking around and trying to sense it, there was something. "Ezra, what do you see?" Kanan asked also sensing it.

Ahkilleon rested his hands on his harness close to his lightsaber walking out starting to sense something, something sinister.

"Ezra!" Ezra spun around and saw looking right at him was Maul, the red and black skinned Nightbrother with his yellow crown of horns "Ezra!" Kanan grabbed him and "Kanan, what's going on?" Ezra gasped.

"I don't know. I don't know!" Ezra said frantically, Ahkilleon turned around just in time to see Ezra collapse onto the floor, the rebels surruonded him shouting "Ezra, can you hear me? Ezra!"

Ahkilleon held up his comlink, "Corto, I need you here now, Ezra's down." Later, Ezra was brought to the Ghost carried by Zeb, Corto came when called withou his sister Yumi, "Where is he?" he asked Ahkilleon who was outside the Ghost, he led them in and gestured up to the second floor to Ezra's room. Zeb walked out having laid Ezra on his bed.

Both Kanan and Hera were outside the room talking before they saw Corto approaching, "What are you doing here?" Hera asked guarded.

"Corto is the best healer in the New Jedi, if somethings wrong with Ezra he can fix it." Ahkilleon said patting Corto on the back.

Corto held his hands up "Please my Master is the best, but I'll do my best." "Kanan?" Hera asked him, "... Might as well." Kanan said.

Corot walked in and knelt down beside Ezra, everyone looking at him. "When did he collapse?"

"About five minutes ago, said he kept seeing somone?" Hera explained to him.

Corto held hish and over Ezra and then rested it on his forehead, before he touched his other finger to his wrist, "Pulse normal, any history of visions?" "Yes, a few actually?" Kanan said to him "He discovered a Jedi Temple on Lothal, and even had visions of other things." Kanan said to him.

Corto closed his eyes, "I noticed he had a green lightsaber, the old texts say that those who had green Lightsabers had green ones had a closer connection to the force than in the physical plane it's just an obsevation but-" Corto looked back to Kanan but froze, the rebels saw him freeze and his eyes go wide not looking at Kanan but instead was lookight fight at Darth Maul kneeling in front of him, Corto blinked and Maul was gone.

Corto let out a long breath, "This is…. Going to take some explaining." Suddenly Ezra woke up with a jolt.

"Did you do that?" Yumi asked, "Nope." Corto said backing up letting Kanan kneel in front of him.

"Whoa, Ezra. It's okay. You're safe." Kanan said patting him on the shoulder, Ezra wiped some sweat off his brow and looked around the room "You want to tell us what's going on?" Kanan asked.

Ezra looked to Ahkilleon than his Master "It was Maul."

Everyone's eyes went wide except for Corto who met Ahkilleons gaze, "You mean, at the briefing?" Hera asked.

"I saw him. He said my name. He was right behind me. I mean, he was right there." Zeb leaned on the doorway "Kid, I was standing next to you. There was nobody else there." Zeb said.

Ezra sat up leaning over shaking his head "Maybe it was some kind of, uh, Force vision."

"Mmm, maybe." Kanan said, Corto stood theere hands behind his back silent.

Zeb shrugged it off "Ah. If you ask me, the kid's just been working too hard." Chopper let out a few mocking beeps at Ezra and Hera scowled at the snappy droid "Chopper, stop it." "No, Chop's right. Nap time's over. I should get back to work." Ezra said getting up smiling at them to show everyone was fine.

"You sure you're alright?" Hera asked him.

Ezra walked past her to the door, "Hera, I feel fine. I just had a bad thing. No reason to stop the rebellion, right? Come on, Sabine. We gotta get ready for our mission. " Ezra said to Sabine who walked with him, Ahkilleon watched them go.

"Corto?" Ahkilleon asked not to leave.

The eyes were drawn to the Vos-Ventress boy who stood oddly silent, "Something to add?" Hera asked him.

Corto remained silent, "I… saw him too." "What?" Kanan asked, Corto sighed running his fingers through his hair, the thick brown locks fell around his eyes as he sighed "I momentarily connected my mind to Ezra's and I saw, Maul,he has some sort of link to your Padawan."

Kanan paced the room "Maul is obsessed with Ezra, wants to make him his apprentice. It's why he betrayed us on Malachor." "The Sith always betray, it's their way." Corto said as if quoting someone. "We should alert the Council of this." the healer added ever the dutiful padawan, Ahkilleon had however been eerily quiet.

"What do you think Ahkilleon?" Kanan asked.

Ahkilleon placed his hands behind his back, "I think you should have let me kill Maul when I had the chance."

"You still want revenge, even after saying you wanted to be better?" Kanan asked him, Kanan frowned, Hera noticed "Tell me what you're thinking, Kanan. I'm thinking whatever Ezra went through with Maul, it's not over yet." she asked him.

"Maul is a monster, letting him live only prolongs the suffering he'll cause. Would you have spared General Grievous if you had the chance?" Ahkilleon asked him.

Corto cleared his throat, "The Jedi constantly spared our mother, without that mercy we wouldn't exist." Yumi pointed out hands on her hips.

"Your mother never slaughtered entire villages, or run crime syndicates that enslaved people with terrorists. If Maul is attacking Ezra through these mind tricks, then the only solution is to kill Maul." Ahkilleon said, arms folded over his chest.

Kanan frowned, not having an answer, Ahkilleon left before anyone could say anything "Turok, Breacher, get the men on stand by, quietly we don't want to cause a panic." "A panic for what, Commander?" Breacher asked him "Hopefully nothing, but I want us ready."

Outside the Ghost, Ezra and Sabine were prepping for the mission "Stop. We have all the proton torpedoes we need for this mission." a black bug eyed Protocol droid said to Ezra and Sabine, he had dark metal plating with a masculine programming, Ahkilleon noticed them and approached.

"Well, not according to the weapons expert, which is me. I want two more cases of 'em loaded up." Sabine said. "Why am I the last one to know about supply changes?" the droid said, "Who is this?" Ahkilleon asked.

Ezra looked to him, "Oh yeah, you haven't met him this is AP-5." "I cannot work under these conditions." the droid complained as he stormed off ignoring Ahkilleon.

"Ugh, it's like AP-5 and Chopper were made on the same assembly line." Sabine said as Chopper chirped at her with his low beeps. "Oh, I'm the one who needs an attitude adjustment?"

Ahkilleon shook his head, "Droids are more than just simple machinery, given enough time they'll form their own personalities." Ahkilleon said looking down at Chopper "Like homicidal maniacs."

Chopper grunted rolling off "That wasn't a compliment chop." Ezra said as he noticed something out of the corner of his eye "It's him. I... It's Maul." there he was walking down the landing strip, no one stopping the night brother.

"What?" Ahkilleon asked hands on his lightsabers, but he didn't unsheath them "This way!" Ezra shouted running after Maul, "Ezra? Hey, Ezra! Ezra? Chop, go get Kanan." Sabine shouted before she chased after them. Ahkilleon followed Ezra who pushed Phoenix Troopers out of the way "Out of the way! There he is! I see him." "You're sure?" Ahkilleon asked, "I know he's here." Ezra barked as he heard sinister laughter.

Sabine chased after them shouting "Ezra. Stop!" Sabine said as Ezra and Ahkilleon ran after Maul who vanished again, Ezra looked around and saw Maul's boots poking out from under an A-Wing, he nodded at Ahkilleon who saw the feet and squinted. "Ezra?" Without waiting Ezra leapt over the ship and attacked Maul, knocking the sith down and drawing his lightsaber "I knew it!" Ezra raised his green lightsaber and swung down on Maul before Ahkilleon suddenly blocked him "Ezra! Ezra, wait!" "What are you doing?" Ezra barked looking at Maul, "Ezra! It's not Maul! Look at him!" Ahkilleon shouted and it was just a Phoenix Squadron soldier who was terrified of Ezra. Ezra sheathed his lightsaber and stepped back shocked at what he had almost done "You're out of your mind, kid!" the man shouted before he ran off. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Ezra called out, Kanan came up with Chopper just in time to catch Ezra falling to his knees, his master got on the ground with his hand on his shoulder "What's happening to me?" Ezra asked, scared. Corto approached as well, kneeling he held his hand out and Ahkilleon looked around, "Where's Yumi?" Corto looked over his shoulder "She went off to meditate." he said as he focused on Ezra. Later, Kanan and Hera were walking toward the Ghost as Turok and Lt. Breacher helped load up the extra supplies into the ship "Maybe I should postpone the mission, stay here with him." Hera asked worried like she usually did for Ezra.

"Ezra will be fine. I've got a plan." Kanan said reassuringly.

She gave a reluctant sigh "Be careful, Kanan." "We will try not to space those two while you're at it." Kanan gestured to Turok and Breacher who were taking Ahkilleon's place on the mission. Sabine came up to Kanan, she looked in the distance to see Ahkilleon speaking to Corto and a group of his soldiers, they were armed and started to head out to the perimeter of the base with long range sniper rifles. "I'm surprised she got on the ship." Sabine said as Kanan turned to her.

"I told her I had a plan." "Really? And she left anyway?" Sabine teased.

"Very funny. Come on." Kana held up Ezra's brown painted wrist comlink and gave it to Sabine "Ezra's wrist com?" She observed.

"I need you to put a tracker on it without him knowing."

Later both Ezra and Kanan rode into the grove of Bendu, the great ape like creature made of stone and orange fur, as they approached Bendu appeared from the stone uncurling his massive shape to greet them "Bendu, you knew we were coming." Bendu heard Kanan said, "Yes. You're not exactly quiet creatures, hmm?" "Tell him what's happening." Ezra asked him "The dark side wielder I told you about, the one who wanted to join the holocrons together. I've seen him here on Atollon." Ezra confessed to the creature.

Bendu leaned on his knuckles speaking with a mighty voice "I warned you, joining the holocrons together could bring both great wisdom and great danger." Given a reluctant nod Ezra exclaimed "I know. I felt their power, and I did see things, but my vision was incomplete." "Incomplete?" "Yeah, I let go before either of us got the answers we wanted, and then the holocrons were damaged we… got rid of them." Ezra said, remembering how at Vizla Keep, Asimov had traded supplies the rebellion despeartely needed in exchange for them "Aha. I see. Well, that's not good." Bendu replied.

"What do you mean, "That's not good"? What can we do?" Kanan asked him.

"What do you want to do, hmm?" Bendu asked cryptically "I want to stop seeing Maul." Bendu smiled Then don't turn around." Both jedi turned around to see Maul standing on top of the hill to Bendu's grove, and on her knees beside him with darkening bruises on her face was Yumi. "Bendu, what should we do?" Kanan asked but the mysterious Bendu was gone.

HYPERSPACE

The Ghost, Enroute to Lothal

Hera made the jump to hyperspace, with Zeb in the copilot seat, Chopper plugged in. Rulf and Jay were working the coms system with Rulf sitting in the front gunner seat. "Captain Syndulla, this is a fine ship you have here." Rulf said, he was wearing his cadet uniform with his beret like Jay, but he sported a blaster on his hip.

'Hmhmm." Hera said not in the mood to talk, "Don't take it personal Cadet, it runs in her family." Lt. Breacher was in the doorway smoking his cigar, Zeb's nose scrunched up obviously irritated by the thick smoke.

Hera looked back "Can you put that out, we're in a star ship?" she sneered.

Breacher replied by tapping the tip of his cigar making the ashes fall to the floor, "Syndulla, as in Cham Syndulla's daughter." Breacher said, Both Jay and Rulf looked up at that. "The same, shame he wasn't on the right side of the last war." Breacher said.

Zeb winced, "Uh oh." He muttered.

"Right side?" Hera asked, getting up, "That right side of yours slaughtered my people when they tried to surrender, I did my own research on you too, Oswald Breacher." Jay and Rulf both said "Oswald?" At the same time hearing his full name, Breacher didn't flinch. "Separatist Volunteer Militia were at the battle of Sareesh." Breacher smoked his cigar "A glorious day, when freedom triumphed over imperialism."

"Your side executed clone soldiers." Hera growled, "The droids did, my Commander objected the same as when Wat Tambor was looting Ryloth, he knew that if we wanted more worlds to join us we needed real soldiers in the fight, not that droids aren't real." Breacher replied.

Hera gritted her teeth "So you're willing to accept the war crimes the Separatists committed, why shouldn't you." She said glaring at the Hexagon shield on his uniform.

"I ain't saying they were perfect, but they were the best chance for a free outer rim, now the Militia is." Breacher said as he huffed smoke in her face.

She waved it off, "We aren't part of the Militia, we're going to help the rebel cells on Lothal, they just so happen to be working with your Militia." Breacher folded his arms, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend Captain, only reason why we're here."

ATOLLON

Bendu's Grove.

Maul pushed Yumi down into the grove, the padawan girl had her hands bound behind her back, her lightsaber held in Maul's hand "This is a strange place. So remote. Oh, yes, the Empire will have a difficult time finding you here." Both jedi drew their lightsabers and Maul scoffed, ignoring the fact Yumi had pressed something under her sleeve "Y... You think I came here to fight? I came here to speak with my apprentice." Maul said as he walked with one hand on Yumi's shoulder using her as a human shield, "He's not your apprentice." Kanan growled.

"Yet." Maul smirked.

"How did you find me?" Ezra growled his green lightsaber ready to cut down the real Maul.

Maul rolled his yellow and red eyes "When you abruptly severed our connection with the holocron, you mixed up the information….You learned a bit of what I wanted to know, and I learned a bit of what you wanted to know. But there were fragments and memories left in my mind." "Like the location of our base." Ezra gasped, Maul smiled "Yes." he chuckled and hissed like a sly serpent "Very good. Oh, you do learn fast, apprentice." Ezra didn't take the compliment "Look, I can't make sense of what I saw. I couldn't even describe it if I wanted to." Maul nodded with his evil smile "And that is why you need to come with me, so I can retrieve the answers which are just out of reach." "So you get your answers, but what do we get out of it?" Kanan asked him "I will keep your rebel base secret." Maul replied casually as he squeezed Yumi's shoulder letting them know he would hurt her if they didn't give what he wanted "Let the girl go, as a sign of good faith."

Maul thought it over and loosened his grip, Yumi pulled away and Maul tossed her lightsaber at Yumi's feet, Ezra cut her bonds and Yumi grabbed her lightsaber taking a fighting stance turning on the yellow lightsaber. "Villain." "Indeed, now do we have a deal." Maul asked them before he could get a response they heard another speeder in the distance followed by a screeching halt and "MAUL!" Ahkilleon soared over the edge of the grove both lightsabers on and pointed at Maul, the sith lord dodged before Ahkilleon could drive the sabers into him, he backed up hands out wide as the Jedi surrounded him, more speeders were heard followed by footsteps to reveal the Tigers had surrounded the gorge blasters trains on Maul.

"No deal. You're not walking off this rock in one piece." Ezra said seeing they had the upper hand now, or so they thought.

Maul gave a bone chilling snicker " have planted a beacon nearby. Strike me down, and it will activate, revealing your presence to the Empire." He said holding up a device he'd been hiding in his rags. "You have knowledge that is rightfully mine. I have knowledge that you want. The key to defeating the Sith. What I propose will satisfy us both." Maul said looking from Ezra to Ahkilleon, he hadn't grabbed his helmet, his green eyes burning into Maul.

Ezra thought it over, "All right." Kanan quickly objected "Ezra, you're not doing this." "He's going to expose Chopper Base." Ezra protested, "We'll move, build a new base." Kanan objected.

"Maul won't hurt me, Kanan, he needs me. Besides, this might be our last chance to learn the secret of how we can destroy the Sith." Ezra argued, Ahkilleon grunted "No, we can find the beacon, even if the empire gets here we can give you a new base Ezra." Ahkilleon argued. "I do not like this." Kanan said turning his lightsaber off "But we don't really have a choice, do we? I'm gonna trust you on this." Ezra walked forward as the guns kept their sights on Maul, "All right. We have a deal." "Do we?" Maul asked looking to Ahkilleon, Ezra gave him a pleading look, Ahkilleon lowered his guard and the men lowered their rifles. "After you, my apprentice." Maul said as he walked off. They watched Maul and Ezra leave the grove, the rebels and militia keeping their distance, Corto ran up to Yumi, who pushed back "I'm fine Corto." She winced, "He jumped that's all."

Corto looked at the corsair starship taking off in the distance, Maul's Nightbrother soaring up into the sky. "Back to the base, we're going after them." Kanan said.

In only a few minutes, Kanan was running to the Phantom II that hadn't gone with the rebels on the mission "I'm tracking Ezra's signal." Sabine said having noticed the ship taking off "They just made the jump to hyperspace."

"Let's get going. I don't wanna lose 'em." Kanan added. Before they could take off, Ahkilleon, i jumped onto the ship "What are you doing?" Kanan asked.

"Coming with you." Ahkilleon said sitting down, just before the door could shut Corto slipped into the ship, "How many people are we bringing?" Sabine asked.

"Corto, you should stay here with Yumi." Ahkilleon told him.

Corto shook his head "No, I'm coming with you." "You're not a fighter Corto, and I'll be fine." Ahkilleon protested, Corto strapped in across from him "He hurt my sister Ahkilleon."

Kanan groaned and started to take off, as they broke the upper atmosphere Ahkilleon handed Corto one of his lightsabers, his steely wrapped up blue lightsaber "Kanan, I need to know when the time comes you won't stop me, when the time comes."

Kanan was silent, "...I won't stop you, but are you doing this for the greater good or your own personal revenge." "Either way, Maul dies." Ahkilleon said looking at the dark iron colored lightsaber, he could see the red glow of the crystal in the lines where the metal joined.

DATHOMIR

Nightbrother

The Nightbrother dropped out of hyperspace toward a dark red world, Ezra looked at it sensing a dark force from it "Where are we?"

"That is Dathomir, my home." Maul said "If this is your home, where are your people?" the ship descended on to the surface, it's red haze covered the whole world and a thick crimson mist covered a forest of twisting trees and briar roots that reached out of the ground like claws ready to grab at whatever flew overhead. While they left the ship Ezra asked "Where is everybody?" "I am the last survivor. My family, the Nightsisters, were killed." Maul said as they passed through the force to a large rock formation, Ezra noticed among the ground were scrapped battle droids "Droids?" Ezra asked.

Maul grimaced "Yes, you'd be delighted to know your oh so called friend, the Tano boy, his father was responsible for the massacre of my people. Masterful witches they were. A threat to the Empire. I know that you can relate." Maul growled.

Ezra dropped the droid head he was looking at and thought of Ahkilleon "These witches, they use the Force?" "Some aspects, yes, but it was their connection to this planet that made them strong. That is why we are here, to perform some old magic." Maul said as they entered a large cave carved into solid stone, a great ominous face was over the mouth of the cave to give it the appearance of a dark creature whose mouth they were walking into.

"Yes. Yes, everything that we need lies within the cave. I'm not going any further until you tell me how this works." Mauls said walking him into the cave, Ezra's eyes adjusted to the darkness and saw the interior had been carved out entirely into a massive underground village, it had stone walkways over dark streams, and statues broken and cracked littered the ground "The only way to access the knowledge we seek is to merge our minds again. The effect will only last a moment. Just enough time for each of us to find the answers to our questions." Maul said leading Ezra into a room "Trust me, Ezra. I only want the answers I deserve, nothing more." Maul said before they entered.

"What do we have to do?" Ezra asked.

Maul smiled inviting him in "Come. I have gathered many things, secrets to help us restore our memories." The room was pilled with crates, relics and antiques, on the wall there was a obscure painting of a beautiful woman with pastel colors, light blonde hair and burn marks seared over her face "Look at all this junk." "Do not touch anything. These are artifacts from my past, from a time when my power was almost absolute." Maul growled as Ezra looked around and he noticed a small alter, the hilt of a strange weapon sat on it. It was boxy and had a small guard at the edge with ribbed grip "Get away from there!" Maul shouted when Ezra reache for it.

"Is that a lightsaber?" Ezra asked.

Maul nodded "Indeed, yes, but not like any that you would know. If your Mandalorian friend was here…" He chuckled "She could explain it to you."

HYPERSPACE Phantom

"Why is Ezra so willing to trust Maul again and again?" Sabine said to Kanan as they flew closer to Dathomir, when they dropped off of hyperspace Ezra flew them to the planet surface. "I don't think he is, but I do know he's taking a big risk for all of us." Kanan said.

Behind them Ahkilleon was talking to Corto, "Do not underestimate Maul, he's a master of the double bladed lightsaber and he will attack us when we least expect it, when was the last time you held a lightsaber, Corto?"

Corto rubbed Ahkilleons blue lightsaber hilt, "I… not since I was a youngling." "I thought that was a prerequisite to being a Jedi." Sabine asked.

"A jedi only draws his lightsaber if he intends to use violence." Corto stammered "I've dedicated my life to healing those who suffered violence, but he hurt my Sister."

Ahkilleon nodded "We're lucky he didn't kill her." Down on the surface of the planet, Maul led Ezra out into the large cavern of the village, there was a stone table at the center of it, etched with ruins and glyphs in the dathomiran language "I have studied the ways of the Nightsisters and found a spell that suits our needs." He said gesturing to the large rock "This... This altar is the focus of their ancient power. Now, to initiate the merge, we... We must each drink this potion. Mmm, you first." Maul said as he mixed old dried fruit, dust and other malicious looking things that made Ezra gag into the potion "Mmm, To complete the spell, you must drink it all. " Maul said as he held up the cup to Ezra.

"You first." Ezra said, Maul cocked a brow as if almost offended then downed the whole potion looking at Ezra who only took a sip "Just like me, all of it." Ezra did so and in seconds he felt his whole body tingley he began to wobble "Mmm, ha. It's working." Maul said as he started to feel it to, the altar began to glow green like on fire with green smoke filling the cavern, both Ezra and Maul opened their eyes glowing green with nightsister magic. Outside the Phantom landed with Kanan and Sabine running out "They should be this way. Come on." Sabine shouted. Corto ran out too and Ahkilleon caught his arm "No, stay with the ship." "But I-" "Aren't a fighter, you said so yourself, guard the ship if you see Maul take off." Ahkilleon ordered him, Corto looked at him and saw there was no reasoning with him or arguing for that matter. "... fine."

Back in the Nightsisters Coven the spell was in full swing, the magic had taken form in glowing gree energy that swirled and coalesced into the air above Ezra and Maul, "Where is he?" Maul shouted looking at the magic that began to take form two shapes, no three "I want to know how to destroy the Sith." Ezra whispered to the magic.

Maul looked up a world with two suns appeared before them "I see. I understand!" Maul shouted.

"Who is that? I know him…." Ezra said before the spell collapsed and the two of them fell back, Maul leaned on the alter gasping "Of course. It ends where it began." Maul growled.

Ezra wheezed sitting up "A desert planet with twin suns. He's alive. I... I can't believe he's alive." Suddenly both of them heard a loud screech "It is time to pay our debt." Maul said. "Wait, wait, wait! What's happening?" Ezra asked frantically "What is that?" Ezra asked Maul, hearing more screeching and then seeing a green light fly overhead, "Pay our due." they heard a dark voice screech "the spirits of the Nightsisters must be compensated for the use of their magic." Maul said getting close to Ezra.

"So pay 'em, and let's get out of here!" Ezra said drawing his lightsaber Maul didn't draw his knowing better it wouldn't hurt them "The price is our flesh and blood! Don't let them touch you!" Maul said as six lights flew overhead and took the form of zombie women in ghostly shades of green smoke like light. "Now you tell me?" Ezra shouted "Ezra!" Ezra and Maul looked to the entrance to see Ezra and Kanan had gotten their first. The voices continued "Pay our due." "Kanan, Sabine! Stay back!" The Nightsisters flew at Kanan and Sabine who tried to fight them, Sabine opened fire with their blasters and Kanan swung his lightsaber at the phantoms but it passed through them like smoke.

"Ezra!" Maul grabbed Ezra before he could help, even if he could the spirits wrapped around Kanna and Sabine and they watched helplessly as both of them were consumed by the spirits their bodies going limp but still standing "Stay back." Maul said, both of them limped to the altar kneeling backs to it.

Ezra got closer "Kanan? Sabine?" Both Kanan and Sabine opened their eyes glowing green possessed by the nightsisters spirits. "Sabine! It's Ezra!" Ezra said as she opened fire on them, Ezra deflecting her shots, Kanan's possessed lightsaber swung at Maul who backed away "You better not hurt him!" Ezra barked.

Maul deflected Kanan's assault shouting "We cannot defeat the spirits of the Nightsisters! Follow me. I will show you how to save your friends." Maul told Ezra, the two of them making a run for the exit, they fled the way they came only for Ahkilleon to appear "Maul!" He shouted red lightsaber in hand, Maul leapt over Ahkilleon shouting "Faster! We must reach the cave entrance." Maul told Ezra.

"What?" Ahkilleon asked, before he saw both Kanan and Sabine's burning green eyes "I leave you for ten minutes and this happens?" Ahkilleon shouted.

"Run now, talk later." Ezra snapped before Ahkilleon followed Maul and Ezra out to the cave, when they reached the edge out of the shadows both possessed rebels stopped at the darkness's edge.

Panting Ezra looked back "Wait. Why aren't they coming after us?" Ezra asked. He looked over to see Ahkilleon slam his red lightsaber against Maul's the two of them locked in a lightsaber fight.

"The altar is the source of their power, they cannot venture beyond the cave." Maul told Ezra even as he fought Ahkilleon, who through his left arms metal fist into Mauls face, "Whatever you've done to them, you'll undo it before I kill you." Ahkilleon shouted before Ezra ran between them hands up "Whoa, whoa time out!"

Ahkilleon bared his teeth like fangs. "No Ezra, we finish this now, we can take him."

"Not if we loose Sabine and Kanan." Ezra argued, Ahkilleon looked to the cave he saw both of them sinking back into the darkness, their green eyes glowing like candles before vanishing. "Damnit." Ahkilleon spat, turning off his red lightsaber "This isn't over."

Maul turned his lightsaber off seeing a truce, "It is unfortunate about your friends, Ezra. But this... This is your opportunity to embrace your destiny, as my apprentice." "I told you, that is never going to happen." Ezra replied, Maul let out a furious howl "Forget the past! Forget your memories! Forget your attachments. Our futures converge on a planet with two suns. We can walk that path together as friends, as brothers." Maul begged him, Ezra looked at Ahkilleon and then at Maul "I already have a brother, and our friends are trapped in there because of us, we can't just leave them." "You disappoint me, Ezra Bridger." Maul laughed almost sad, walking back to the nightbrother, he noticed the Phantom and sensed Corto inside, the young padawan was holding Ahkilleons blue lightsaber, he looked at the entrance waiting for Maul to come, or for him to move but he froze, terrified. Maul scoffed at such a thing to sense and boarded his ship to leave.

When he saw the coast was clear, Corto went running to the cave entrance, "What happened?" He asked.

"Maul got away, and he's done something to Sabine and Kanan." Ezra explained, Ahkilleon looked at Corto's hand still trembling with the lightsaber in hand, he reached for it and took it "We're safe for now, but the others, explain."

Ezra took a deep breath "Okay, we used something Maul called Nightsister Magic to see the answer to our question. There's this altar is where their power comes from. So, they can't leave the cave, which means we just have to get Kanan and Sabine outside. How hard can that be?" Corto's jaw dropped "YOU USED NIGHTSISTER MAGIC!" he shouted.

Ezra flinched, "Y-yeah- I mean no, Maul did." Corto flung his hands in the air "Nightsister Magic is like Sith Alchemy, only fucking maniacs use it." "I thought your mom was a Nighsister?" Ahkilleon asked, "Ex nightsister… oh stars we cannot tell her I came here, Maul attacking my sister bad, my MOM finding out I'm on Dathomir is a fate worse than death." "I'm more worried about my friends fate, will it work?" Ezra asked.

Corto shrugged pacing "Ummm in theory, yes." he said looking up at the Nightsister coven "Technically this place is a force nexus, a powerful convergence point for the force, specifically the dark side." "Is that why it's green?" Ezra asked him "It's green because it's freaking DARK SIDE MAGIC!" Corto shouted at him.

Ahkilleon held his hand up "We go in, we get them out, we destroy the altar sounds like a plan."

Ezra nodded "But we cant hurt them." Ezra reminded "We won't." Ahkilleon said, Ezra started to make his way into the cave, Ahkilleon turned to Corto, "We… we'll talk after we get back." "I froze." Corto said shamefully, "Son of a Sith Assassin and Jedi Master, and I froze like a coward."

Ahkilleon patted him on the arm, "Maybe Kanan is right, revenge or greater good isn't worth it if it costs me people I care about." Ahkilleon said, turning into the cave to follow Ezra.

They walked in darkness for a long time, passing by stalagmites and stalactites that held up the cave. "This place reeks of the dark side." Ahkilleon said, holding both his lightsabers. "... Maul said, your father slaughtered his people?" Ahkilleon glanced at him "My father… did terrible things, when he was spy for the Jedi he fell to the dark side, the Nightsisters tried to kill Count Dooku with their magic, he stopped their spell and gained Dooku's trust." "At the cost of all these lives?" Ezra sked looking at some nightsister bones "My mother never pretended my father was perfect he- LOOK OUT!" Sabine appeared from the shadows like a feral beast hands out slashing at Ezra and Ahkilleon, both of them drew their lightsabers as she sat up, her possessed eyes glowing green.

"You're unwise to re enter our sanctum." the voice of Sabine and the nightsister blended into a heinous mix of words, and Sabine reached behind her back to produce the ancient lightsaber that Maul had, she turned it on and Ezra's eyes went wide seeing it was a different design from the ones he'd seen, a single edged black blade with a point, glowing dark black. "That doesn't belong to you." Ezra grunted "Then take it from me-" She said before shrieking "Jedi!" she attacked both Ezra and Ahkilleon swinging the lightsaber madly at both of them, Ezra and Ahkilleon gave her a wide berth before Ahkilleon blocked a strike meant for Ezra, "Go, get Kanan." Ahkilleon said.

"But what about-" "Go!" Ahkilleon shouted as he met Sabine's second strike deflecting her attacks.

Ezra turned to run deeper into the chamber, leaving the possessed Sabine and Ahkilleon to face off "I can feel her thoughts, oh what delightful secrets this one has." the spirit said to Ahkilleon.

"Sabine, if you're in there, kick this spirit's ass." Ahkilleon said, the spirit laughed and attacked again, Ahkilleon dodged and side stepped out of the way "She doesn't care for you, she's disgusted by you, and would be even more knowing what your kind did here." the spirit shouted. "Son of a murderer, a butcher!"

Ahkilleon grimaced hearing that "Fat talk from a dead witch." Ahkilleon said as the spirit attacked again.

He continued to back away dodging left and right before the spirit drew Sabine's blaster and shot Ahkilleon in the foot, it signed on his leg and he fell back to the ground, the spirit leapt on top of him, Ahkilleon dropped his lightsaber stopping Sabine's saber arm from cutting his throat, and grabbing her other arm. They wrestled on the dark stone "We will use this one to rebuild our clan, she belongs to us." "No, you can't have her!" Ahkilleon shouted before the spirit rolled over back on top, "Oh how you care for-" the spirit made Sabines face contort as she sat on top of him her legs wrapped around his one and bodies close, to feel "You disgusting man-thing of all the places to do that!" The spirit leapt off having felt Ahkilleon under him.

He was partially embarrassed and partially amused, he pulled his robe down a bit lower past his belt "It's not for you if that's what you're thinking, witch?" The spirit shrieked before Ahkilleon held his hand out and used the force to knock her off her feet, he used the force to rip the darksaber from her hands and dropped it. It rolled over screeching as Ahkilleon used the force to push Sabine to the cave exit, "No, no, no!" the spirit cried before Sabine was thrown out into the daylight, Corto kept his distance and the spirit flew out of Sabine's mouth back into the cave shrieking.

"Ugh…" Sabine moaned, "I really hope whatever Ezra asked Maul was worth it."

"Let's go find out." Ahkilleon said helping her up, "Um, do you remember what happened while you were possessed?" he asked as they headed back in.

"Let's not talk about it." Sabine said "Ever."

Deep in the ruins of the Nightsister Village, Ezra found Kanna kneeling on top of the alter, dark nightsister magic energy florida round him encasing him in the green flame "Kanan?" A sinister voice came out of Kanan's voice "Maul promised us flesh and blood. With it, we can begin again and rebuild the great clan of the Nightsisters." Ezra walked around the altar holding his lightsaber "If Maul made you that promise, then it's my debt as well. I will pay it." Ezra offered "Just let my friend go." The spirit rose in Kanan's body "Perhaps, if you prove to be stronger." the possessed Kanan attacked Ezra drawing his blue lightsaber, Ezra engaged his master on the defensive much like Ahkilleon had "I know you're in there! I'm not losing you to these monsters!" Ezra shouted at Kanan. "Our due must be paid!" the spirit howled at Ezra, who used the force to knock Kanan back "Spirit, I am the one you want! Let him go!" Ezra held his arms out showing he wouldn't resist.

"Ezra…?" Kanan coughed on the ground.

The spirits flew around the altar screeching at the jedi "You belong to us, boy!" "Kanan, get out of here." Ezra told his master who was getting to his feet "You belong to us, boy….. The debt must be paid…..Now you will pay the price!" the spirits wailed above surrounding Ezra, moving in every direction, Ezra grabbed Kanan's lightsaber off the floor and slammed it down on the alter "I'm gonna have to owe you one." "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" the phantoms shrieked a great bright green flash erupting from the altar before going dark, just as Ahkilleon and Sabine came in.

Ezra coughed out dust from the altar, looking around, he saw Kanan on the ground and knelt to help him up ""Kanan? I'm here." "This is the last time we're working with Maul." Kanan wheezed, as the other approached "I sure hope so." Sabine said to the two jedi.

"Sabine, you're okay." Ezra said relieved "Thanks to Snips." Sabine teased Ahkilleon. Kanan got to his feet "Well, was it worth it? Did you find out what you wanted to know?" "Yes. The answer to my question of how to destroy the Sith is Obi-Wan Kenobi." Ezra said.

Ahkilleon reached up to take off his helmet "What?" he asked, eyes wide, "The Obi-Wan Kenobi, my fathers Master, the Negotiator?"

This got both Kanan and Ahkilleons attention "You think he's still alive?" Kanan asked. Ezra replied "He must be, but Kanan, Maul's also looking for him. So he knows where he is now?" and then added "The holocron didn't tell us that. It just told us a planet with two suns." "Well, that hardly narrows it down." Sabine pointed out "Well, we're gonna have to figure it out, because if we don't find Master Kenobi before Maul... There won't be any way to stop the Sith." Ezra said as they headed out of the exit. On their way out Sabine split off and picked up the hilt of the dark saber, Ahkilleon watched her helmet under his arm.

He looked at her and she met his gaze, "You know what that is right." "I know." She said tucking it away in one of her belt pouches, "I'm going to give it to Kanan when we get back." She said walking to the entrance.

He followed her, keeping pace at her side, "You sure, I could maybe show you some moves, never know when you're going to need a good blade?" He offered.

"No thanks, besides I felt your moves earlier." she teased, Ahkilleon blushed a bit "I mean…. Is it weird that I find you even more attractive when you're trying to kill me?" he asked as they walked out of the cave to the Phantom II, "Yes, yes it is." she pointed out. "But it's also sweet." she leaned up to peck him on the cheek with a kiss before Ezra or Kanan could notice.