A/N: Ok, first off Dave Filoni and the Star Wars Rebels team of this episode's original ending, is nothing short of Perfection. But this will end differently.
Chapter 55
Twin Suns
ATOLLON
Outside Phoenix Home
The night sky covered Atollon, a hologram of General Kleeve stood in front of Turok and Ahkilleon, the two of them had remained outside the base, at the foot of their coral tree. Kleeve was thinking of what Ahkilleon had just told him, "That's been all talk in fleets, will we or won't we join with the Rebellion. Asimov will use this as a distraction for his coup, Vanguard are already talking about joining with them."
"Why the change of heart?" Turok asked.
"That damned beast, politics, Asimov is proclaiming in honor his padawans memory that the Militia and the Rebellion should stand together as one." Kleeve said looking at Ahkilleon, "What about the reports of Rebel Delegations going missing?"
Kleeve shrugged "If they have, it was Asimov's doing. Besides a few random cells like Saw's partisans, we never received contact from the Rebel High Command. But our own intel is still wary of their interests, the core's sphere of influence will be challenged forever if we exist."
"Putting that beast of politics aside, what did Steela say?" Ahkilleon asked.
Unfolding his arms and putting them behind his back, "Steela is with us, that means the Mavericks are too, that just leaves the Homeguard and the Cyberspiders."
"Have you been able to talk to Trench, to tell him alive?" Ahkilleon asked.
The devaronian shook his horned head, "No, the Empire has attacked the Hutt territories again. Trench has all six of his hands full, if we lose the southern systems the entire Militia will lose it's ability to move it's fleet. He may have to sit this one out."
"It's only three days until the next Union Meeting, he'll have come." Ahkilleon said as he looked at Turok, "And he will side with us, at least with me."
There was a long pause, "Turok, when can you get this offer of alliance to me?" Kleeve asked.
"I'll do it myself, usual drop off spot?" Turok asked him, "No, better you come to Selucami. You've been gone for too long, the Hexagon has kept your disappearance quite. But you should make an appearance."
Ahkilleon nodded "He's right Turok, the men need to know the Immortal Dragon is alive, and if Asimov tries to make a move against you he'll have to move against Kleeve."
"It's a gambit, but it's the right one." Kleeve explained.
Turok gave a reluctant "Sure, why not."
"Commander Tano, you spoke with the Rebel leaders, did they seem sincere about their desire for an alliance?" Kleeve asked him.
Ahkilleon chewed the inside of his lip, "They did, at least I think Mon Mothma wants to be."
"Be careful, politicians are like snakes; they shed their skin when it's convenient." Kleeve said.
"Between the Rebels and the Empire, we can't afford a war on two fronts. What are the latest reports from Lothal?" Ahkilleon asked, trying to change the subject.
Kleeve pressed something and a hologram appeared, "Warlord Bloodwolf has resurfaced, he's launched a new campaign in the southern hemisphere. General Frag has pushed the Empire back back across the eastern continent. But it's wreaking havoc on the planet's ecosystem, bombs are dropped by the minute, and there are more droids than people now."
"The rebellion is still planning to go on with its strike, this could be an opportunity?" Ahkilleon said.
"An opportunity for what?" Kleeve asked.
Turning his lip into a thin line, he leaned in, "The Mavericks and the One Eyed Devil's can match the Vanguard for numbers, but they don't have jedi anymore. We don't even know if Trench will have any men to help. What if we had the Wolves."
Both old men looked at Ahkilleon like he was daft, "The Empire will be so focused on the Rebel attack, the Militia could use it to sneak a fleet in to get them out. Bloodwolf, the veterans, their families, it's monumental."
"You'd ask them to give up Lothal, they'd never do it." Kleeve said "Probably not, but would Bloodwolf risk his army. This could be the very thing that could unite the Rebels and the Militia, with a combined force it would be a retreat, it would be a tactical withdraw."
Kleeve thought it over, "We'd need to get a message to Bloodwolf, and he's always on the move."
"We have to for…."
Ahkilleon stood up and looked out in the distance, he saw a figure on one of the hills, the stood their robed and hooded a silhouette against the night sky, "Turok do you see him?" Ahkilleon asked, "...This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan... Obi-Wan Kenobi. I regret, I regret, I regret…" The figure spoke in a long off voice, Ahkilleon felt his eyes grow wide and his jaw set tensing.
Turok looked around, "See who… what do you see Ahkilleon?"
"Ugh, Jedi stuff." Kleeve grumbled, "Master…. Kenobi?" Ahkilleon asked taking a step, the words growing more distant." This is Master Obi-Wan... Obi-Wan Kenobi. I regret... I regret to report that both... I regret... Our Jedi Order and the Republic have fallen... Fallen…" The figure had his back to him, "Where?" Turok asked.
"Our Jedi... Jedi Order and the... Have fallen with the dark shadow... This is Master Obi-Wan... Obi-Wan Kenobi. This message is a warning for any surviving Jedi... Surviving Jedi. A new hope will emerge. A new hope…"
"KENOBI!" A scream like a banshee howled, Ahkilleon grabbed his forehead and winced before looking up to see Obi-Wan was gone. "We have to get back."
Ahkilleon and Turok rode into the rebel base just in time to see Ezra and Kanan speaking to Sato, Hera and Rex, Ahkilleon hurried up to see them. "Maul's back." Ezra said to him, "I felt itoo."
Sato narrowed his gaze at them "This is a private conversation, Mr. Tano and you-" "Shut up." Ahkilleon said, "It was the holocron right, he's going after Kenobi." Ahkilleon sait to Sato and then turned to Ezra.
"Such insolence I should-" "Oh don't get your panties in a wad Sato, you'll give yourself a migraine." Turok said to shut him up.
Ezra nodded "So what do you think it means, Kanan?" Hera asked.
"I couldn't really guess." Kanan explained "Holocrons at times take on a life of their own, but as to what it means…"
Both Ezra and Ahkilleon were already thinking the same thing "It means Master Kenobi could be alive and in danger right now."
"We have to find him." Ahkilleon agreed.
Rex frowned remorsefully "Boys, no one would like to believe General Kenobi's alive more than I would... but Senator Organa confirmed his death."
"Maybe he was wrong. We know Maul went looking for Master Kenobi." Ezra protested, "This could be a sign that he's closing in on him."
"Or it could just be a broken recording. That doesn't explain why I heard Maul's voice. But you've heard it before. You've heard it before, and it was just a trick. Maul was manipulating you. I want to go to Tatooine to check things out."
Ahkilleon's face snapped toward them "Tatooine, wahts this about Tatooine?" Ahkilleon asked.
"That is on a need to know basis." Commander Sato said, Ahkilleon flung his arms up "Well I-we need to know, Obi-Wan Kenobi could be the key to unite the Militia and the Rebellion against Asimov, he was a General for the Republic and if he is alive the last surviving Member of the Jedi High Council. Do you know what that means?" Ahkilleon asked.
Nobody spoke, "It means he's everything we need, he has the name, the reputation, the strategic mind. He served with both sides, General Freeman fought with him, he knew the Senators in the Rebellion by name. He could be the Supreme Commander of an allied force we only dreamed of. Even the Emperor himself would be afraid of such a Jedi."
They all looked at him long and hard, "The reports came in after Ezra started asking about Obi-Wan, we confirmed it with Senator Organa he died years ago somewhere in the Tatooine system they say."
"Ezra, Ahkilleon, can I have a word with you?" Hera asked.
The two boys followed Hera away from Rex, Kanan, Turok and Sato, Ahkilleon gave Turok a nod "Gentlemen, word from our horned friend."
Once they were out of earshot, Hera started "We're training for the attack on Lothal, and nobody knows that place better than you. I need you to help us prepare if we're going to be successful."
"But, Hera, if Master Kenobi is alive, think of what he could do for the Rebellion." Ezra asked, "Exactly, we have to find him." Ahkilleon agreed.
The green eyes in Hera's head turned stern. "If he was alive, do you think he would be hiding in some backwater world instead of helping us?" she asked.
Ahkilleon shook his head, "There has to be a reason, maybe he's imprisoned, maybe he's stranded. Tatooine is mostly a desert, it's a backwater by all standards." Ahkilleon said to her.
"I wish things were different. I really do. But right now, I need you two here. There's too much at stake, for Lothal and for us." Hera said to them.
Ezra and Ahkilleon exchanged looks of worry "You know I want to help Lothal more than anyone." Ezra replied, as if agreeing.
"I know." Hera said, "And we may be able to do that in more than just this strike." Ahkilleon asked.
They returned to the other men and Rex was stroking his beard thinking, "Turok Skell has just proposed the most ridiculous plan." Commander Sato scoffed.
"Which is our speciality as you know." Kanan commented, "What plan?"
"The strike on Lothal, we use as a diversion to get the Bloodwolves off Lothal, a combined Militia and Rebel operation like last time, it be a rallying sign to everyone that Militia and Rebellion can fighter together." Ahkilleon said, arms over his chest.
Hera cocked her head, "But we wouldn't have enough ships?"
"Those the Wolves have, and the One Eyed Devil's fleet can get the rest off, your mission would go ahead. But the Empire would be forced to, Turok will deliver the rebel offer to Kleeve, but we need to get someone on Lothal to talk to Bloodwolf personally." Ahkilleon explained.
The worry about Obi-Wan taking a backseat, Ezra thought of the perfect person "Ryder, he's his father he'd have to know."
"But how do we get onto Lothal without Militia help, we don't have the Owl, and Thrawn knows our moves." Hera explained to them, Turok gave a whistle "Well we could ask the Militia Agent who hid an entire nation for years on how to get around an imperial blockade." Turok suggested.
The rest of the Rebels thought it over, "But will he listen."
"No." Ahkilleon said pacing a few steps thinking, rubbing his hands "Bloodwolf is proud, if it comes from us he'll think it's running away. It needs to come from an equal. From another Warlord."
Turok smirked, "Oh he's going to love this."
THE NEXT DAY
A unknown shuttle the rebels hadn't seen before flew down from the skies escorted by two A-wings, it was a round shaped Ghtroc Industries 720 light freighter, small with a cockpit at the front with old paint and engines that chuffed out smoke before making a shaky landing. General Kleeve emerged in a dark gray coat with a purple scarf, his cybernetic eye had an eyepatch on it. "Haven't flown that hing in years." He said.
Approaching him hand out, "General, thank you for coming on such short notice."
"Kalani will be able to handle things while I'm away, having him join us was the best thing to happen to the Devil since we took Selcuami." Kleeve said walking with Ahkilleon up to the rebel command center, passing by Ezra who had a hover cart full of crates of ammo for the A-wings, Ahkilleon watched him and Ezra shook his head, which meant one thing. Ezra, was going to break some rules
Ahkilleon kept in pace with Kleeve, "I assume you have a cover story?"
"Yes, we made up for a Deveronian holiday." Kleeve snickered as they walked up to Commander Sato, Rex, Hera and Kanan, Turok in the corner smoking his pipe. "Commander Sato, Captain Syndulla, Captain Rex, General Jarrus." Kleeve said as he made the Militia salute a fist over his chest.
Kanan grunted "It's just Kanan."
"Old habits, Turok?" Kleeve asked, the trandoshan approached him and gave the Datapad Mon Mothma had given to Ahkilleon, for Kleeve "Let's hope this is the first step in a true alliance, when do we leave for Lothal." Kleeve said.
Hera leaned on the holotable, "Soon, we just need to go over the plan. Ahkilleon will you get Ezra, he said he'd be here."
Turok approached "Caf, General?" Turok asked, "Where did you get that?" Commander Sato asked him, Turok handed General Kleeve a cup, "Stole it."
Ahkilleon nodded, knowing where he was. "Be right back." Ahkilleon said heading down to the landing field, where a dozen A-wings were already lined up and ready to fly. He saw Ezra speaking with one of the Rebel troopers in a yellow uniform.
"Can I see the manifest?" The airman asked, Ezra handed him a holopad and Ezra looked around "Hey, any of the fighters run fully-loaded?" he asked, Ahkilleon watched him, and noticed their was a new ship among them. "Well, the trainer's prepped, but it's left engine blew a fuse. However we got a recent gift of something new."
Ezra raised his head curious, "See that beast over there." The airman pointed to one of three new ships an, "Couple of old Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter, or the ARC-170s for short, the meaning of heavy duty." the man said as he read the report "Been using it a lot lately with the newer recruits." Ezra suddenly moved away from the crate heading to the ARC-170, he hopped in the pilot seat and started to get the controls ready, Ahkilleon made a mad dash to get into the rear seat behind Ezra without him noticing, and another stowaway.
"Well, everything seems in order. No surprise there. Why don't you take them over to... Hey!" The airman shouted when he saw Ezra was gone, he looked back to see the ARC-170 starting to take off "What are you doing? Lieutenant, you're not authorized." Ezra pretended he couldn't hear him "Stop! Lieutenant, come back! Land immediately!" The man cried out as Ezra took off without knowing he had someone else in the ship.
"Hera, I hope you can forgive me." Ezra took off out of Atollons atmosphere and started to put in the hyperspace coordinates, "She'll get over it." Ahkilleon said on the coms.
Ezra jumped in his seat hitting the glass of the cockpit, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm coming with you moron, and this is more about Kenobi than it is about Maul." Ahkilleon exclaimed to him, Ezra looked back in the seat with the coms on, the two divided by the glass and space, "What about the mission to Lothal."
"Turok and Kleeve can handle that, besides what's the worst they could do."
Meanwhile back on Atollon, Hera was answering that exact question, Hera clapped both her hands together as if to pray for patience, and exhaled sharply out of her nose, "I am going… to hang them upside down from the ghost, for a week."
"Hera, I'm worried about them too. Maul could-" Hera suddenly emitted the greatest amount of dark side energy that even Kanan hadn't felt before from her "By-there-ears." Hera growled.
Behind them, both Turok and Kleeve sipped their coffee "Is it always like this?"
"Welcome to family Kleeve." Turok told him as they sipped, "Rebels." Kleeve grumbled.
TATOOINE
The ARC fighter dropped out of hyperspace above the sandy planet of Tatooine, the desert spreading every inch of the world with partial swaths of brown rocky canyons, "All right, here I am. Tatooine, middle of nowhere."
"The capital of nowhere, we are in deep Hutt territory." Ahkilleon said to him as he looked at the radar checking to see if there was anything on the scopes, "Militia didn't want it too?"
"There's nothing here but-" Both boys were startled by the sound of another stowaway in the droid seat behind Ahkilleon Chopper!" The droid beeped at the two of them, Ezra furious and Ahkilleon more annoyed than anything.
"No, you know what." Ezra snapped "How did you get here?"
Chopper replied with a snarky explanation "I mean in the ship. I didn't want any of you to be involved, not this time."
"We can always space him, watching him fall into the atmosphere." Ahkilleon suggested, Chopper hurled a barrage of insults at him, but Ahkilleon rolled his eyes "Yeah, I know you can take care of yourself-You know what? You're in." Ezra said flying down to the planet "Not that you have a choice now."
They flew down to the planet on the nightside where the sands of Tatooine were struck a dark blue by the light of the moon, they flew over an endless swath of land with no buildings, people or anything in sight. Chopper then asked them where they were going "I don't know where we're going. Yet."
"So you just hopped in a fighter, came here without a plan and what, just wing it like we usually do, Ezra?" Ahkilleon asked him.
Ezra frowned, "I have… something of a plan." he held up two small metal pyramids in his hand one with four sides one with three, the tips of the now broken Jedi & Sith holocrons. "Are those pieces of the holocrons that I brought back?"
"They were glowing when I felt them call to me, there has to be a way to use them to find out the truth of Kenobi's location, right?" Ezra asked.
Ahkilleon shrugged "At this point, why not?"
"Okay, Master Kenobi, if you're down there, show me something." Ezra held his hand up and the two pieces glowed blue and red, as Ezra communed with the force in them, "Ahkilleon, take us in. I'll let you know when to change course." Ahkilleon flew the ship down to the surface as Ezra directed them the pieces glowing as they flew forward and suddenly dimmed.
"Ahkilleon, bring us around. North by northwest." Ezra snapped, Ahkilleon adjusted and the crystals dimmed again "Wait, what-...Hey, Ahkilleon, take us down."
Ahkilleon flew over a large series of canyons and set the heavy gunship down in a gorge they still lift off from, the blue sky of the desert world had turned the otherwise brown rock into a deep greyish purple.
All three of them got out, "The crystals led you here?"
"We're close now. Chopper stay with the ship." Ezra asked as the two young men looked around, Ahkilleon scanned the top of the canyon cliffs, the desert air was cool as the rock without the sun, till he felt something call to him near Ezra, turning he saw Ezra hold up another small stone, a corner piece of the Sith holocron, "The Sith holocron?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Now you see…" Ezra asked as suddenly they heard the krack of a rifle and a slug slammed right into Chopper knocking the droid off it's wheels into the ground. "Chop!" Ezra snapped, Ahkilleon grabbed Ezra pulling him behind the starfighter, "This is a trap!" Ezra shouted "Chopper, find cover." Ahkilleon shouted as they heard the fierce battle cries of their attackers, it was a throat like roar and they peaked over the edge to see a series of attackers suddenly appear all of them head to two in thick sand stained linen wrappings, with leather masks that had metal spikes and goggles with strange funnels for their masks. "Who are these guys?" Ezra asked.
Ahkilleon looked around at them, "My guess from the slug throwers and the screams, the locals, Sand People I think?" Ahkilleon said as they opened fire hitting the ship sparking it's fuel supply. Ezra saw it send sparks into the spilling fuel.
"Move, move!" Ezra shouted, before their only means of transportation exploded sending the boys and Chopper flying and the firing stopped, as the two recovered Ezra groaned, Ahkilleon was on his feet looking round "Well, that explosion must have scared them off." Ezra said, looking around.
Ahkilleon shook his head, "No, my mom told me of the Sand People, some call them Tusken Raiders. They fought in the crusade under a Jedi Master named Hett, they don't run when they have the advantage." Ahkilleon pointed to the ridge where the firing had come from, "There." Ahkilleon scaled the rocks like a cat looking over before he froze, "What is it?" Ezra followed to see four Tusken Raiders laying dead their linens singed and bandoliers cut with burn slashes across their bodies.
"Lightsaber wounds… Maul?" Ezra gasped reaching for his lightsaber, Ahkilleon and him went back to back waiting for the fallen Sith to reveal himself, but only the desert winds greeted their readiness.
"He's here, somewhere." Ahkilleon said.
"But why hasn't he attacked us?" Ezra whispered back to him, "He must know we're close to finding Kenobi, or… do you think this is a trap… again?" Ezra asked him.
Ahkilleon looked around before he loosened up. "If it is, then we have to be ready." Ahkilleon knelt over the fallen Tuskens and removed their bandoliers, starting to scavenge their ammo and one of their rifles that hadn't been destroyed by the ambush. "I thought you didn't use guns?" Ezra asked him.
"If Obi-Wan Kenobi is here, and so is Maul I'm not going to let my pride get in surviving this." Ahkilleon said, slipping a slug into the rifle's chamber and cocking it, "What else can we do?" Ahkilleon asked him.
Ezra nodded, turning off his lightsaber. "We have to go forward." Ezra said, the two of them alongside Chopper scaled back down and started to walk through the canyon, eyes peeled on the higher ground for Maul or any more Sand People. But nothing came and when they finally made it edge of the canyon they stopped looking out at the endless vast ocean of sand with nothing for miles around except open ground.
"Well, I suppose crossing the sands is a bad idea?" Ezra asked him.
Chopper beeped and then Ahkilleon rolled his eyes "Yes, Chop, especially for droids."
"Okay, we can head along the ridge." Ezra said looking to the east when he looked out in the sand and thought he heard something, his name "Ezra…" Maul was standing there in the distance than vanished "Guys, you see that?" Ezra pointed out and Ahkilleon raised the rifle, "It's gone." Ezra said "It was Maul?" Ahkilleon asked him.
Ezra nodded "It had to be. He's close." Ezra said "But where?" Ahkilleon asked, Chopper protested going any further on foot but Ezra pressed him.
"Look, we have to go that way. I'm sorry, Chop, but we have to help Master Kenobi if we can." Ezra said leading Ahkilleon into the dune sea, Chopper stood their still beeping in objection "I'm sure if you follow the ridge you'll find a settlement. Maybe you could contact home base."
Ahkilleon then called back "Or maybe some Jawas can find you, I hear they liked desert planets with droids."
Chopper reluctantly followed with some colorful insults. The boys headed through the desert and the cool night air made the sand colder than it would be soon, as they walked Ezra glanced back at Ahkilleon who followed in silence. "If we do find Maul out here we need a plan, he'll try to get in our heads, separate us?"
"Good idea, you're better with a blaster, maybe I should hold the lightsaber?" Ahkilleon asked him, looking at Ezra's blade.
Ezra let Ahkilleon catch up so they walked at each other's side, "I was thinking more of keeping our heads, I just want us to be on the same page this is to save Master Kenobi. Not killing Maul?"
They walked a good minute more before Ahkilleon answered him "It's him or us Ezra, if I have the chance I won't hesitate."
"I know you will, just… make sure it's for the right reason instead of your own revenge?" Ezra asked him.
Ahkilleon stopped "Why does the reason matter so much to you and Kanan, Maul is a monster, he's literally hunting maybe the last real hope for the Galaxy. If I can convince Master Kenobi to come back with us, to face Lord Asimov. He could- he will unite the Rebellion and the Militia Ezra. Maul is the only thing that stands in the way?"
"Maybe, maybe not. The point is I don't want you to go down the same path Maul has."
"I won't, long as you watch my back?" Ahkilleon asked, stepping forward when the ground started to give way and Ezra yanked him back by the bandolier; he wore a large sinkhole big enough to swallow Zeb appeared. The two looked down into the bottomless desert gapping at it. "Like that?" Ezra saked with a smirk, Ahkilleon shrugged "Yeah, like that."
"How far down do you think it goes?" Ezra asked, "I'd rather not find out."
THE GHOST
Enroute to Lothal
Without Ezra, Ahkilleon or Sabine the Ghost was oddly quite with all the grown ups aboard, especially with the addition of Turok and General Kleeve who was reading through the offerings of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, he sat in the lounge with a cup of caff next to him as Turok played a round of holochess with Zeb. Hera entered and approached Kleeve "We'll be arriving at Lothal soon, what can we expect?"
"The Militia fleet there was broken a month ago, so a blockade for sure. Black Wolf Moon fell a few weeks back, an intercepted report from the Empire says the Bloodwolves scuttled the whole base from top to bottom, ran on oxygen for a few days in evo suits before the Empire wiped the mout." Kleeve said as he set the tablet down.
Hera stared at him in surprise, "They refused to surrender Captain, you know what kind of loyalty Bloodwolf can inspire in his men."
"I do, which is why I hope you can relay the offer from Mon Mothma as sincere." Hera told him sitting down across from him.
Kleeve leaned back hands on the table clasped together, "About that, I've read through the offer twice. A similar arrangement you had with the Vanguard, supplies for the Rebellion's vast spy network but with some… ultimatums?" Kleeve elicited with some displeasure.
"Such as?" Hera asked, "Where to start?" Kleeve asked opening the holopad up to look at it "This doesn't read like an offer of alliance, the Militia's armies and fleets would be subject to 'Alliance regulations, and strategy', expectations of 'flying identifying markings', opening our ports and worlds to rebel forces. This isn't an alliance, its subjugation to the core all over again?" Kleeve asked her.
"It's sincere, we have to stand together to beat the Empire." Hera reiterated.
"Bloodwolf won't see it that way, this draft will need to be rewritten to make sure the Militia stays the Militia, the Warlords and especially the General won't bend the knee to Mon Mothma over pretty words. We follow strength, actions, and deeds." General Kleeve explained.
"Theirs more to being a leader than a warrior General, Mon Mothma defines that." Hera said firmly, Kleeve smiled "Maybe in the Rebellion it does. But haven't you heard, the Militia are Barbarians, we need small words." he teased.
Hera sighed folding her arms, "Okay, we hold off on showing Bloodwolf the offer, until it's written more… simply, but let me ask you this. You follow General Freeman and he doesn't fight so why are you helping us?" Hera asked him.
"Because I saw a man come back from the dead, and rather than run away from the people who betrayed him, give it all up and walk away. He's going to run right back into the fire."
TATOOINE
The Dune Sea
The twin suns of Tatooine had risen over the desert, and like a hammer of the sun they beat down on Ezra, Chopper and Ahkilleon "Don't worry, Chop…. it can't be much farther….We'll find someone, or something…." Ezra said as they headed forward.
"Draw him out…. Your pain, your sorrow. It calls to him…." Ezra shook his head as Mau's words seeped into his mind, Ahkilleon noticed it but said nothing "Come on, keep moving." Ezra asid the two stopped when they heard Chopper's battery start to go out, the droid deactiavting from the heat "Chop? Chopper! Hey, no! No, no, no, no, no! Don't do this, buddy!" Ezra snapped running back to the droid.
"Come on! Chopper! Hey, Chopper-" Ezra cut himself off falling to his knees "This is my fault. I should have just stayed home." Ezra gasped as Ahkilleon sat down to take a rest.
"I don't know what to do." Ezra said, "When do we ever?" Ahkilleon snickered.
Ezra shook his head the voice of Maul still there "He is dead…. He is dead…."
"No…." Ezra muttered, "Ezra?" Ahkilleon asked "You led me to him."
"No." Ezra said exhausted, "Fight it Ezra." Ahkilleon moaned as he started to pass out.
"You failed your friends." Maul said as Ezra saw Ahkilleon it the dirt.
"No!"
"You will die!"
"NOOOOO!" Ezra screamed, swinging his lightsaber at the voice before he slumped against Chopper and succumbed to exhaustion.
LOTHAL
The Ghost soared down out of the cloud a squadron of TIE fighters hot on their trails, Hera and Kanan were in the cockpit, Zeb was on the top gun, Turok on the bottom gun and Kleeve running back from the nose gun to the rear gun in the Phantom II, "You call that flying woman!" Kleeve shouted as he slipped into the chair.
"This is my ship if you don't like it, I know where the airlock is." Hera barked as the rebels and Militia held off the TIE's, when they broke through the clouds Hera gawked at what she saw, the once lush pale green fields of Lothal, its blue and cloud filled skies were gone and replaced with world only war could bring. Entire plains of grass were replaced with overturned mud and trenches abandoned from fighting, the wreckager of fallen Star Destroyers and Militia Dreadnoughts bled flames and smoke into the air turning the sky black with ash clouds that rained down on te Ghost. In the distance they could see green cannon fire of Militia forces.
It was only Kanan's hand that snapped Hera out of the trance of horror, "Is it as bad as it feels?" the blind man asked.
"Worse." Hera said "Alright Kleeve, broadcasting your codes to anyone who's listening?" Hera said.
The Tie's kept at them as Hera evaded them suddenly the TIE's broke off before out of the clouds came a squadron of Militia Hawks and Vulture droids, but they were different even from the Militia ones they'd seen, heavily painted with blue markings, spirals, stripes and spots on each of them.
Two broke off to join the Ghost, "This is Sparrow squadron Ghost, welcome back. Follow us, Lord Azadi will be notified of your arrival."
"Lord Azadi?" Kanan asked.
The Ghost, escorted by the two Hawk fighters flew over the remains of Trench Town where they had met General Fragg the BX commando droid who dressed like a man, now the Militia base nothing but smoldering crater that had fallen to enemy bombardment. Instead they flew to the base of Lothals grey mountains, there the ground wasn't as war torn as the rest but miles and miles of trenches had been dug, Imperial walkers corpses lied everywhere as large triple barreled droid canons were piled high on the mountain peaks. Entire gorges and gun emplacements had been carved into the mountain range. Militia flags flying high on them in defiance streaked with red marks to show they were the Wolves, and these were their mountains "They turned the entire mountain range into a fortress?" Zeb asked.
The Ghost was led to a larger mountain where a blast door opened for them, and they landed inside a makeshift hanger that was once a cave, "Time to see if Ryder is still Ryder." Kanan said, getting up.
When they disembarked, Hera walked out alongside Kleeve with Kanan, Zeb and Turok following from behind, what they saw waiting for them was a sight to behold. The Militia regulars who greeted them who were often dressed in their grey or brown fatigues under their armor were still wearing the armor of the Militia, but the uniforms were gone. Replaced with leather strips, loin cloths, furs and blue war paint over bare flesh and armor. Many of the men and women wore their hair in warhawk, their battle flag scars shown proudly alongside Okami markings of the native Lothalian humans, but the few aliens who were their wore the markings too.
A tall broad shouldered man with a wolf pelt around his shoulders dressed in a mix of furs and work wear approached them, blue stripes on his forehead, it was only when Kanan sensed it was Ryder did he gape. "Gov- Lord Azadi, good to see you again." Hera greeted.
"Don't start, my son insists on it as a formality my friends, along with this ridiculous outfit." Ryder said pulling at the wolf cloak around his shoulders.
"I am General Kleeve of the Militia. Where is Bloodwolf, we have to talk to him." Kleeve said as he approached hand out, Ryder only took it after looking at Kanan who gave a less than enthusiastic nod, "My son is on his way back from a raid, his Wolf Patrols have been sabotaging the enemy advance, General Fragg is in the command center."
Ryder led the rebels deeper into the compound where they saw just how much the Bloodwolves had changed, they all now dressed as a mix of the Okami tribesmen and the Militia forces, advanced technology like blasters, shiels, and vehicles painted and decorated with tribal markings, small children or the elderly painted the cave walls with markings or cave drawings of the battles. "What is all this, arts and crafts?" Zeb asked.
"Think of it as a testament." Ryder said "Even if Lothal falls to the Empire, the galaxy will know we fought on." Ryder said.
"That may not be needed Ryder, we have a plan." Kanan said to him.
"Is that so?" Ryder asked as they entered into an underground cavern so big it could fill a star destroyer, "Whoa." Zeb gasped, inside the heart of the Mountain the Militia had carved an entire citadel with walkways, houses, barracks, and aqueducts, mountains of supplies had been piled around. B5 droids also in war paint helped carry supplies "I'm amazed you all have lasted this long, Lord Azadi." Kleeve said.
Ryder glanced at him, "Me too, my son knew the Empire would come back. For the short time we were free he spent every hour building up Lothals defenses, there are dozens of caverns like this all over the Mountain range and underground.
Walking into a large metal structure lit by torchlight, General Frag the BX-commando droid stood in what remained of his military uniform, when he noticed them he focused on Kleeve and stood at attention, "General Kleeve?"
"At ease Commando, glad to see some old soldiers still kicking around." Kleeve approached him and the droid loosened up and held up his metal hand for Kleeve to take in a much more familiar raised clasp of fists. "Lord Bloodwolf will be with us soon, did you bring supplies, news of relief?"
Kleeve turned to Hera, "We should wait till Lord Bloodwolf is here."
TATOOINE
Ezra started to come to the sound of wood cracking the smell of smoke, groggily he saw a large lizard like creature sniffing at Chopper, and figure sitting in a brown robe tending to the campfire. He wore white traveling clothing of the desert under his robe, and had a fading white beard "You're in the wrong place, Ezra Bridger." the man said.
"...Master? Master Kenobi?" Ezra gasped, he looked to Ahkilleon who passed out "Ahkilleon- Ahkilleon wake up we did it." he pushed him, Ahkilleon rolled over and on to his feet "Maul- where…" He froze when he saw the man sitting in front of them.
He dropped to one knee, hands resting on his knee, head bowed "Master Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Hello there." The man said pulling back his hood, he had white hair that was once brown fading on the crown of his head and mustache to snow white. Ahkilleon's face spread into a wide smile, eyes puffy, as if he'd just found part of himself he'd never thought he would. Ezra sat up looking at Ahkilleon's formal kneel of respect, the way a soldier would to a great king. "You should sit, you haven't yet fully regained your strength, and when you have your strength, I will help you two boys on your way."
Both Ezra and Ahkilleon looked at one another shocked "On our way? No, we came here to find you." Ezra said getting up, Ahkilleon rose to "To warn you, and more." Ahkilleon added pointing at Ezra.
"It's about Maul?" Obi-wan asked them.
"Yes! You know?" Ezra replied looking at Ahkilleon who shrugged but still smiling "That saves a lot of time, good."
"One doesn't survive as long as I have by being foolish or unprepared. Maul is an old adversary, and a persistent one at that." Obi-Wan said standing, he was taller than Ezra and was close to the height of Ahkilleon but age had weathered away whatever physique the man had hidden under the robes. "Prepared good, good, because we need you Master Kenobi, the Empire, the Militia, the Rebels. There's so much to tell you." Ahkilleon said hands up wanting to focus on that.
Ezra pushed him back "That can wait, Maul is the real threat, now we can fight him together."
"I had no intention of fighting him, though that seems inevitable now." Obi-Wan said softly, Ahkilleons smile faded hearing that, but he said nothing.
"You don't understand." Ezra said, shaking his head "You're the answer, the holocrons told me. They said you would be the one to help us destroy the Sith." Ezra said eyes hopeful, Ahkilleon gave a frustrated nod, even as Obi-Wan stroked his beard skeptical.
"It's the first I've heard of it." Obi-Wan said, "He's right, he's right. Even I saw it."
Obi-Wan turned to him, sensing something, "Did you know, you are lying, you saw something but I sense it wasn't me."
"... how could you know that?" Ahkilleon whispered.
Ezra ignored that "Look, the Rebellion needs you. We need you to defeat the Empire."
Ahkilleon agreed, "Surely you know about the war going on, the Militia, the Rebellion, we're trying to unite them but we need a leader, someone both will follow." Ahkilleon pleaded.
"What you need, you already have." Obi-Wan said softly looking at the two boys, "Unfortunately, you seem to be letting it all go." Obi-Wan added, waving his hand.
Ezra and Ahkilleon looked at one another, "But if we had what we needed, why would the holocrons send me to you?"
"They didn't. Maul did. Maul used your desire to do good to deceive you, and in doing so he has altered the course of many things. He knows your fears, your heart, and he manipulated the truth, which has led you here, where you should never have been." Obi-Wan said to the two of them, "But the holocrons, they tell the truth." Ezra asked.
"Do they?" Obi-Wan asked, looking at Ahkilleon, "The truth is often what we make of it. You heard what you wanted to hear, believed what you wanted to believe. And now, the only one who has gained anything from all of this is Maul."
Ezra looked at his brother, and frowned "This was a trap all along, Kanan was right again how could I be so stupid-." "No, if it's a trap for anyone, it's maul. The three of us combined can stop, once and for all. And when we're done we can find Maul's ship and go back. You can come with us Master Kenobi and Master Hett. I heard he came back here too, when you hear from our friends, when we explain why we need you."
Obi-Wan was silent, "Master Hett…. Departed this world long ago, and I cannot go."
"You are our only hope to stop it from getting any worse. The Militia and the Rebellion need a General. Please we need you, Master Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan looked at him, Ahkilleon pleading "I cannot help you."
"Please…" Ahkilleon begged through his gritted teeth, "You two must go, I left that life, that name behind too, I am Ben Kenobi now." Ben explained.
Ezra could see something starting to crack in Ahkilleon, like a hammer smashing into glass "You don't understand, there are Jedi like us, a new Temple, a new order who need you to stop a mad man from destroying the Jedi all over again." Ahkilleon asked again, his emotions written all over his face, his body tensing with every word "I cannot." Ben replied softly.
"Ahkilleon…" Ezra asked, but he pulled away kicking up the sand "All this time…" Ahkilleon stammered, "All my life, my mother told me of your adventures. Ahsoka Tano you remember her, what about my father your padawan, Leo Rock you remember him- huh?" Ahkilleon snapped at the old man, with an accusing finger. Ezra got between them "Ahkilleon, not here." "Every day." Kenobi replied with his eyes trying to hide the pain in them.
Ahkilleon bared his fangs, fists clenched tight, nails digging into his palms "Then why, why dammit why are you here." Ahkilleon flailed his arms out into the endless expanse of nothing and sand "You aren't hurt, you aren't trapped…. You… you could have come to Raxus, to Lothal…. All this time you've been hiding… you… just gave up…" Ahkilleon felt hot tears running down his cheeks, cutting through the dried sand on his face. Ben stood their hands under his robes letting Ahkilleon push Ezra away from him, all the cracks that had been made into Ahkilleon over the years were finally starting to break. "I never knew my father… I never knew him, you weren't there to help him." Ahkilleon said hyperventilating from all of it "I lost my mother… and you weren't there to help her when you could have…" he was gasping for air now, the fringes of a panic attack coming over him.
Ezra hovered "Ahkilleon, look at me, look at me."
"The Rebellion, the Militia, they could have used you- you… you could have saved us…. I've done so many things, things I can't take back and you were here… how many jedi were killed while you were hiding?" Ahkilleon asked looking at Obi-Wan who took the accusation, "How many worlds, how many people you could have saved with your lightsaber, if you had just… if you had… if you weren't a…" Ahkilleon swallowed it but Kenobi locked eyes.
"Say it." the old man told him.
Ahkilleon's eyes were red from the tears streaming down his face, and he screamed "COWARD!"
COWARD
COWARd
COWArd
Coward
….
coward
….
coward
And then only the sound of the wind making the fire crackle, Ahkilleon stormed past Ezra and Obi-Wan into the desert, to be alone.
Ezra hurried to follow him, but he didn't have to go far from Ahkilleon, having only made it a few dunes away when Ezar saw him looking down one dune, right at Maul.
LOTHAL
"No." Reik 'Bloodwolf' Azadi the leader of the Lothal Militia, Warlord of the Bloodwolf army had returned from his mission against the Empire in the underground city of the Grey Mountains, he was in the command center around the holotable "In fact, I say hell no. The Bloodwolves won't abandon Lothal over some pretty words and what might happen because all of you idiots couldn't get along." Reik said as he sat in a large fur covered chair with animal bones, Imperial helmets and some skulls on it.
Hera stood there with Kleeve who answered "This isn't a retreat Bloodwolf, this is a tactical withdraw, how much longer do you think you can withstand the Empire alone. Especially if Lord Asimov seizes power."
"Freaking Jedi, if you aren't ignoring the galaxy you're destroying it." Reik said getting up and heading over to a table with food "We've been here, fighting, alone, forgotten and you want me to tell my men we have to leave. The ones who do still have family here are separated or worse. This Admiral Thrawn crushes us at every point, the only reason we've been able to hold is because my men haven't run." Lord Bloodwolf growled.
Hera stepped forward "Then don't run, the Rebellion is a plan to strike Lothal can still work, we destroyed their factories but they replaced them. We can use the distraction to get your men and their families off world."
Reik's ears perked up at that, he looked out of the command center into the underground city at all the people, all the wounded men, all the death. "Why?" Reik asked.
"Why help us, after everything I've said to you Captain Syndulla, you owe us nothing?" Reik asked her.
"Because this is bigger than Militia or Rebellion, it's not just for us, it's for everyone who came before, who are here and who will come. We have to be united or we fall apart." Hera said to him, Ryder smiled and nodded at his son to listen. Reik turned to Kleeve "And you General?"
Kleeve said in the corner arms crossed with Turok "You're familiar with the Jedi King prophecy?"
"I am, let me guess Asimov thinks it's him?" Reik asked, Kleeve shook his head "No, but prophecies are tricky things, they usually have signals, things that they do. This one is just an idea, a man who I know you don't like, it was his idea."
Reik smirked "Tano huh." he paced away, hands on his hips, "We'll need time, to fall back here. How will you get our people out?"
"When the Rebel strike force attacks, the Militia will join the strike the entire Seventh Fleet will be distracted, leaving my fleet the One Eyed Devil's to evac everyone, old, young, sick and wounded." Kleeve said to him.
Reik nodded, he approached Hera "Stand united, or fall divided it is then." and they shook on it.
TATOOINE
Dune Sea
"Well done my apprentice, you have led me right to-" the nightbrother didn't have a chance to finish his sentence, Ahkilleon unleashed force cannon so powerful it blasted the dune behind Maul like a clap of thunder, he held out his original right hand and hurled a bolt of force lighting at Maul who blocked it with his lightsaber. Ezra turned his lightsaber on and rushed him, Maul blocked him "Where is he, where is Kenobi!" Maul shouted at Ezra, Ahkilleon rolled around him and held up his hands to slam them together Maul jumped out of the way before sand rushed up caught in the force smash.
Maul landed in front of Ahkilleon, "What, no lightsaber this time?"
Ahkilleon dodged stepping out of the way of the blade from all directions, "Even if I had my blades-" Ahkilleon drew back his mechano hand and socked Maul in the jaw "You don't deserve them."
Ezra came up from behind and slid tacked Maul taking out his feet but Maul summer salted away from the two of them, when he came up right Ahkilleon was already on him, tackling Maul into the sand when they heard a crack, "Sinkhole!" Ezra shouted. He watched both Maul and Akilleon fall into a dark pit from the sand just as Obi-Wan came running over the hill with his blue lightsaber just in time to see both Ahkilleon and Maul fall into the sand, just as the ground started to give way under them "SINKHOLE!" Ezra shouted before he watched the two of them vanish into the darkness. Maul and Ahkilleon fell, Maul tried to slash at him in the air but Ahkilleon dodged grabbing Maul's wrist to smash hi fist into him before they smashed into heavy rockbed under the desert.
Without thinking "No Ezra, wait-" Ezra jumped into the darkness behind him, "Look out!" Ezra called down Maul and saw him coming and Ezra trying to drive his lightsaber down into Maul who rolled out of the way and turned his lightsaber off, vanishing into the shadows.
"MAUL!" Ahkilleon chased after him into the darkness, "Ahkilleon no- it's what he wants!" Ezra grabbed him and Ahkilleon almost swung on Ezra but stopped, panting, exhausted and his entire dream of Obi-Wan Kenobi leading the Galaxy against the Empire shattered, Ahkilleon's eyes were bright yellow with dark side rage "Ahkilleon no, not like this, not his way. We beat him our way brother." Ezra said, holding up his nexu fang necklace.
Ahkilleon looked at it, his yellow eyes fading back to green "Our way."
They looked into the darkness of the underground and followed Maul in, together.
The only light they had came from Ezra's lightsaber, the green hue covering Ezra's face the rest casting shadow on Ahkilleon, "You've done well apprentice, you led me right to Obi-Wan."
"I'm done being used by you Maul." Ezra called back to Maul's voice as he watched from the shadows.
"It's not too late you know?" Maul asked "You could still join with me, we could destroy the Sith."
Ezra and Ahkilleon stopped at a fork in the tunnel they were in, and they shook their heads going down one together instead of separating, "I-will-never-join-you." Ezra declared.
Maul snickered, no he flat out laughed "No no you, I was a fool Ezra I admit, you held such promise but now I see the real apprentice I desire is right next to you, Ahkilleon the things we could accomplish together."
Ahkilleon smirked "Now I know you're desperate Maul."
"You owe no loyalty to Kenobi, I heard everything. He is a coward, a craven, he should pay for everything he hasn't done all for… what?" Maul asked.
Ahkilleon could feel Maul was close, the cyborg was moving like darkness itself close by, but always out of reach, the underground labyrinth of ancient waterways widened and narrowed as they moved. "I can feel your anger, your rage, use them and join me. And we will Destroy the Sith, Destroy the false leaders who ruined our lives."
He didn't answer, they entered into a large part of the underground, fossils of long extinct "I know the Emperor, I know his mind. I can train you how to face him, to kill him, the two of us and we take our rightful place as the real heroes of the Galaxy." Maul growled, like the long dead animals embedded in the rock, stalactites and stalagmites growing from the floor and ceiling. "All you need to do is strike down the one person standing in our way, Ezra."
Ezra slowly turned to Ahkilleon he could feel the darkness in his friend, Ahkilleon hadn't said a word was he really considering it, and then, Ahkilleon did something truly scary he laughed. It was a soft snicker, then a giggle rising into a bellowing laughter that echoed throughout the caverns, "What is that… why are you laughing!" Maul thundered.
"Because…" Ahkilleon whipped away what little water he could muster from his tears "You are nothing but one big joke Maul." Ahkilleon said into the darkness, Maul who was looking for a way out thought he saw one, a series of rocks leading back to the surface through a shifting sinkhole flickering with light. "... What?"
Ahkilleon followed the voice "You are nothing Maul, but a cautionary tale, a failure, who was always ALMOST a Sith Lord." Ahkilleon called out "What are you doing, Ahkilleon?" Ezra asked him.
"Fighting him our way, he wants mind games now it's our turn." Ahkilleon whispered and gestured to him to do the same, hesitating, Ezra thought of something real quick "I use to think you were scary Maul, can't believe I had nightmares about you?" Ezra called out.
Maul kept climbing to the exit, "I have survived all who dared to oppose me, I cheat death because I refuse to yield, I am rage, I am sinister, I am MAUL!" he yelled, stopping.
"You're pathetic!" Ahkilleon shouted as they followed a set of footprints, "How many years have you been trying to kill Obi-Wan, and you have to get us to find him for you?" Ahkilleon asked, "You had an entire criminal Empire under you, an army of Mandalorians, and lost it in what year?" Ahkilleon asked.
Maul gritted his teeth, "I have seen horrors you can only imagine boy." Maul echoed back, turning away from the light answering the insults.
"Actually we can, it's those yellow teeth ugh and that breath?" Ezra called out waving his hand mockingly "The galaxy has breath mints you know?"
Maul growled at such a childish insult, Ahkilleon nodded sensing Maul was close and the sith slowly started to go back down getting ready to strike, "Not to mention you just named yourself Darth, didn't even bother coming up with a good name, what were they all taken?" Ahkilleon asked.
"No, no we shouldn't be too hard on him. He is just half a man?" Ahkilleon added loudly gesturing over to a large boulder Maul was now hiding behind, "True, we should give him a leg up?" Ezra added and Ahkilleon gave a boisterous laugh "Oh I bet that stings, like getting your entire body cut in half by a padawan!"
Maul squeezed his lightsaber tightly, "No that's nothing, because I know what Maul really hates, the fact that no one!" Ahkilleon got closer to the rock "WILL EVER-" Ahkilleon shouted "REMEMBER YOU!"
Maul unleashed the most blood curdling force roar either Ezra or Ahkilleon had ever heard, he leapt over the rock with both ends of his lightsaber on attacking them like a mad man, "Now!" Both Ezra and Ahkilleon blasted Maul with the force, the nightbrother fell backwards into the rock cracking it, with his metal legs before launching himself back at them with his own force power separating them, he attacked Ahkilleon in a blood rage "Lightsaber!" Ezra threw his green lightsaber at Ahkilleon who caught it, switching to reverse grip; he blocked Maul's attack as Ezra got up and rushed him from behind. Ahkilleon dove out of the way, flinging the lightsaber back to Ezra, taking it in both hands and pushing Maul on the defensive, hacking left and right from on high before twirling backwards, letting go of his saber for Ahkilleon to strike from above. Maul blocked it trying to focus on Ahkilleon who attacked with Ataru, Maul shifted his defense but by the time he had countered Ahkillen returned Ezra's saber to him.
They repeated this process over and over, the green lightsaber always changing hand from one to the other and with the other always changing his lightsaber form to form keeping Maul off balance.
He swung his lightsaber at each of them trying to cut off their connection, but Ezra and Ahkilleon had fought together for years, they had trained together and now the true meaning of their bond of brotherhood began to shine. Wherever the other attacked the other moved to take advantage of Mauls flank, the old warrior howled and roared in a thrash like an animal caught in a net. Wherever he turned he saw Ezra or Ahkilleon holding his lightsaber, when Ezra caught his he swung at Maul who blocked it, Ezra broke off and Maul raised his lightsaber to catch Ahkilleons low strike but Ahkilleon had scooped up the lightsaber in the air spinning and smashing his mechano's fist right into Mauls shoulder a loud pop echoing before Maul barely had time to dodge the green lightsaber slash. Ahkilleon tossed the lightsaber away and Ezra came in high, slashing down on Mau's weakening defense and delivering a roundhouse kick into Mauls ribs making them sound like cracking wood.
Falling back Maul backed up panting and gasping, his hands shaking, the time he spent in the desert taking its toll, gasping, sweating bullets lightsaber flailing "I will… I will… destroy you… then…. Kenobi… KENOBI!" Maul screamed out, letting one hand off his lightsaber to grab his arm, but not the one Ahkilleon had attacked, "Did you hit him?" Ezra asked.
"Barely?" Ahkilleon asked confused before Maul's red and black face changed colors and he vomited up blood, he gasped for air mechano legs wobbling both Ahkilleon and Ezra holding his lightsaber stood ready for anything before Maul dropped his lightsaber and grabbed his chest "What… what have you done…" Maul wheezed, shivering as he fell to his knees clutching his chest.
Ahkilleon gave a shrug of surprise "What's happening?" Ezra asked, "He's having a heart attack."
"No…. nooooo not like this nooo… nooo." Maul gasped, his voice turning into a muling whimper as he cried.
"Ahkilleon maybe we should-" "No Ezra, not this time." Ahkilleon said taking a few steps toward Maul the broken man fell forward on one arm gagging on his own breath reaching for his lightsaber, but Ahkilleon stepped on it, then Ahkilleon kicked the lightsaber away out of Mauls reach, he watched it fall into a crevasse into nothing.
Maul looked up blood running out his mouth, tears on his face "You… we could have done it, the three of us…"
"There never was an us Maul, you die as if you lived alone." Ezra said sadly, even now Ezra still showed pity in his eyes whereas there was none in Ahkilleons. Maul grabbed his chest with both hands, his heart beating it's last, he groaned, falling back onto the cold rock just as Obi-Wan had found his way down to see both Ezra and Ahkilleon standing over him. "Noooo… without me… without me you're nothing." Maul growled at Ahkilleon and at Ezra.
Ahkilleon leaned down and grabbed Maul by his neck with his metal hand "There is no final duel, no last confrontation, your revenge dies with you and so does mine." Ahkilleon pushed him to the ground and Maul clawed at the ground holding on with every ounce of will he had left and it was fading, "The…. strength in your flesh…., the passion in your hearts I gave- ack" More blood spat out, clogged and brackish "I gave you this gift… without me… what will… what will any of you be?" he gasped.
Ezra looked at Maul, and he didn't see a sith, a monster he just saw a man broken long ago and said nothing "Free." Ahkilleon replied.
The light in Maul's eyes started to go out and the once great and powerful Darth Maul opened his yellow teeth for one final scream of defiance into the abyss but nothing came out, and he went limp, dead eyes looking up at Kenobi who approached them from behind.
They stood there for a long time in silence looking at what remained of Maul, Ezra looked at Ahkilleon expecting the young man to also let out some sort of scream at losing his revenge but he just turned away, Maul was no more so what was the point. "Come on, he probably left his ship somewhere." Ahkilleon said not looking at Obi-Wan, Ezra turned to Master Kenobi who gave him an affirming nod and they left Maul there in the darkness, to rot.
Climbing out of the sinkhole, back onto the surface the night sky was turning into a light blue signaling morning was not far off. Riding on the back of Kenobi's bantha they found the red trimmed gauntlet class starship that Maul called the Nightbrother, left out between two tall dunes. "There we are." Kenobi said seeing the ship.
Ahkilleon couldn't slide off fast enough, he walked toward the ship "I'll see if she can fly."
Ezra wanted to follow him, "Master Kenobi, are you sure there isn't anything I can say to convince you to come with us?" Ezra asked him.
"I'm afraid not, I have my reasons for being here, just as you have your reason for having to go." Kenobi said, Ezra gave a sad nod "I just can't believe Maul is dead, and Ahkilleon didn't give into his own anger, maybe he saw what all that did to Maul?" Ezra asked rhetorically, Obi-Wan watched through the windows of the cockpit as Ahkilleon turned the ship on.
Ezra was about to leave "I have to ask?" Ezra said "What was Ahsoka like at my age, what was Ahkilleons father like?"
Smiling Obi-Wan slid off the bantha, "They were both remarkable young jedi, Ahsoka was a prodigy but also a brave young woman who saw the best in people, especially when they couldn't see it in themselves. Kindhearted as she was fearless, I see her in you and Leo… no one was ever more willing to admit his own faults and seek to better himself than Leo, trapped by his own indecision he only wanted to do what he thought was right, no matter the consequences. I wish I could tell you, tell him more." he looked to the Nightbrother where Ahkilleon was coming down the ramp "But we never will know, can I trust you to keep my existence here a secret."
"That's a promise." Ezra replied before Ahkilleon whistled at Ezra to hurry it up.
Ahkilleon stood there waiting for Ezra, glaring at Obi-Wan. "Well. I guess this is it, I think my own Master would want me to say may the Force be with You, Master Kenobi." Ezra gave a formal jedi bow and Obi-Wan did the same before he headed to the Nightbrother.
"You do him no credit by lying to yourself, or him." Obi-Wan said.
"Lying?" Ezra asked him, "I meant what I said when I told you 'The truth is often what we make of it. You heard what you wanted to hear, believed what you wanted to believe.' You believe your friend is still in there, I did too once with another Jedi I called brother overlooking the darkness, the anger inside."
Now it was Ezra's turn to harden his face, "Ahkilleon is a lot of things, but he will always be my brother, and I'll never give up on him."
Ezra headed to the ship "Ever."
Obi-Wan headed back to his Bantha, and Ezra stopped just in case "You sure you want to leave it like this, we may never see Master Kenobi again."
Ahkilleon watched as Obi-Wan climbed back onto the bantha, "He wants to bury his head in the sand, let him. I hope I never come back to this place." Ahkilleon said heading up the ship ramp.
ATOLLON
Rebel Base
"Tell me this means what I want it to mean." Zeb asked Ezra as he walked down Maul's ship.
"We won't be seeing Maul again." Ezra said calmly, he looked up to see Ahkilleon walking out, his hands were caked in as much bruises and sand as Ezra was. He walked over to a stack of cannisters the rebels watching him, opening up one of them he washed the sand and blood off him, drinking of water. Before making a satisfying "Aahh."
The calmness, the almost joyful content look on Ahkilleons face was unsettling, "Ahkilleon did you…?" Kanan asked.
"Ezra's right, we won't see him again." Ahkilleon nodded, "But you did it-" "With my anger, with sorrow, with pain, and fear I gave everything to Maul on Tatooine." Ahkilleon said as he washed the blood from his hands, and face.
He felt them looking at him with worry and he nodded at them, "And that's where it'll stay, with Maul, buried in the sands of the Dune Sea. But we didn't kill him, he did it himself." Ahkilleon pushed his head under the water, to wash away the sand and memory of Maul.
"How?" Kanan asked, Ezra came up "A heart attack, if you can believe it, all that hate and pain inside finally ate him up inside." Ezra said as he took some of the water in his hand to wash his face and body clean of sand
"And General Kenobi?" Hera asked them, Ezra and Ahkilleon looked at one another, Ahkilleon said nothing "We never found him." Ezra replied, honoring Kenobi's wishes to remain hidden.
"General, how'd Lothal go?" Ahkilleon asked, Turok was with Kleeve "Bloodwolf wasn't happy about it, but after a while he came around. The Wolves will leave Lothal during the Rebel attack, it'll cost us Lothal but they will live to fight another day."
Getting up and ringing out his wet hair, Ahkilleon nodded "Then we have our plan, only two days left until the Union meeting."
"I'll be on my way then to deliver the rebel offer to Freeman, with the altercations we agreed on?" Kleeve asked Hera, "I'll see what I can do." Hera replied
"When do you leave General?" Ahkilleon asked "Now, if I'm away any longer it could be suspicious. I'll head to Raxus first, then back to Salecuami to gather my forces."
Ahkilleon nodded "Good, because I'm coming with you." Ahkilleon said "And I'm going to get my lightsabers back."