Post by Farren Sefu on May 30, 2019 15:32:01 GMT -5
Lightning continued to spark around them as the Sith holocron charged the weapon. Ahsoka hardly noticed it as she clashed sabers with the demon that had consumed her former master. She needed to draw him away so that Kanan and Ezra could deactivate the weapon before it could destroy whatever life Maul had it aimed at. While she succeeded in luring the Sith Lord outside, she wasn’t quite fast enough, and a sudden Force push knocked her off the ledge to the level below. As she looked up, Vader turned and walked away, no doubt to kill the Jedi and recover the Sith holocron. She ran to the lifts that Maul showed her and used the Force to aid her in jumping up the walls until she reached the upper level again. Once there, she found her fears to be confirmed. Kanan and Ezra had successfully dislodged the holocron from the obelisk, and Vader was using the Force to pull it out of Ezra’s hand, as he and his master held on to it with all their might. The removal of the holocron before the weapon could be fully charged caused a chain reaction throughout, as the dark side energy behind released began to tear the building apart and the ceiling was collapsing. Ahsoka charged Vader and used a Force-enhanced jump to launch herself at him. The Sith sensed her coming, just in time to raise his saber in defense. Ahsoka used her main saber to parry his blade, and used her shoto to land a slash across his mask, sending sparks and material flying. Vader’s body twisted at the impact, causing Ahsoka to lose her footing and fall to the ground a few feet from him. She groaned as she climbed to her feet and began to move towards her Jedi friends at the edge of the room as the security walls closed slowly around them.
“Ahsoka....” came a horribly familiar voice, straining with pain. Ahsoka’s eyes went wide as flashes of the Clone Wars raced through her mind. She saw herself fighting alongside her master, and laughing with him during the quiet times. Training sessions at the Temple, interrogations of Separatist criminals, and sharing a meal with Senator Amidala. All the good and bad times poured over her, and she became overwhelmed with anguish. Surely her master was still in there somewhere. He had to be.
She turned to look at him, and found Vader wheezing through his damaged mask, his respirator struggling to keep his airways functional. He looked up at her and half of his mask had been destroyed, revealing a single yellow-orange eye. It pierced her with malicious intent. “Ahsoka...” he breathed again.
“Anakin.” She whispered back. Behind her, Ezra was assisting his blinded master board the Phantom, the security wall almost closed now. “I won’t leave you!” Ahsoka said to Vader as he rose to his feet. “Not this time.”
Vader was silent for a few moment, his ragged breath the only thing piercing the silence. His gaze seemed to intensify as he finally spoke. “Then you will die.” His saber reignited across his face, cloaking him in its red glow.
Ahsoka narrowed her eyes at him. Then her expression softened. This wasn’t the Anakin she knew. He was totally beyond himself now. Maybe he knew something she didn’t...
“Ahsoka!!” Ezra called out behind her, after getting Kanan inside the Phantom. He began to run towards her, but she held up her arm and reached out with the Force.
Kanan came flying out of the Phantom, clutching at his neck and gagging. “Ah-Ahsoka!” He choked. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry, Kanan. But he’s my master. I made a promise that I’d follow him anywhere. I broke that promise once. I can’t break it again. She released her grip and Kanan dropped to the ground between her and Vader, who had since lowered his saber, but kept it on. He took over now and reached out with his own hand and once more raised him in the air, this time binding his limbs to his sides as if he was bound with ropes. A flick of his finger sent the temple guard mask he was wearing flying off his face and scattering across the floor. “Now, all you need to do is help us find the other Jedi. As long as I’m here, I can make sure they get a fair trial and maybe even go free. Please, Kanan.”
“Ahsoka! Stop this!” Ezra cried out from behind them. The walls were almost closed, and Ezra was lying on the ground to see underneath as his master was being tormented by Vader. In seconds, the wall sealed itself and they were separated. Ahsoka looked up at the ceiling as a surge of energy blasted its way out of the obelisk and hit the pyramid roof. The stone began to crumble and fall around them as the structure started to collapse.
“We don’t have time for this.” Ahsoka said.
“I agree,” replied Vader. He clenched his fist tightly, and Kanan screamed in pain, then fell silent as his spine and neck snapped. Vader released his grip and Kanan’s body slumped to the ground. Ahsoka closed her eyes and looked away. She hadn’t wanted that, but it was time to move on. “I am pleased that you came to your senses, my old apprentice. The Emperor will be pleased to have you on our side,” he continued, as he put his saber back on his belt.
“We’ll see about that. He won’t be pleased if we both die in here. I know a short cut.” Ahsoka ignited both her sabers and plunged them into the floor. The weakened structure collapsed beneath them, and they all fell through the floor into a corridor inside the structure below, landing on their feet. This particular corridor was the same one that Maul used to meet them earlier, and so it led outside. As they walked out, Ahsoka turned and took one last look at Kanan’s body, which had fallen with them, and laid sprawled across the debris. His blinded eyes emphasized his death with how milky white they had become. She reached out and called his lightsaber to her, clipping it to her belt alongside her own. Meanwhile, Vader tapped a button on his arm and his TIE Advanced x1 appeared and came to a hover before them. The roof hatch opened and the pair jumped inside, with Vader at the controls and Ahsoka standing behind him, feeling a bit cramped in the single person ship.
“The boy has escaped with the holocron, but I sense that Maul remains. He must not escape with what he has seen here. Help me find him.” Vader said, still rasping through his damaged mask, his voice half distorted, half his own. Ahsoka nodded and together the pair reached out with the Force, scanning the area for the shadow essence given off by the former Sith.
“There!” Ahsoka said. She pointed out the view port and saw a TIE Advance v1 taking off and flying for the surface. With all the Inquisitors dead, and Ezra leaving in the Phantom, that left only Maul at the controls. “He took one of the Inquisitors TIEs. Let’s go, Master.” She said. It felt odd calling Vader “master” once more, but it still felt right.
“He will not escape.” Vader replied. He turned his ship in the direction of Maul’s TIE and fired. Maul must have seen them coming because he sent the ship into a spin, dodging the laser fire and continuing towards the opening created when the Phantom crashed through the surface.
“If he makes it out, he’ll be free to jump to hyperspace and we’ll never see him again.” Ahsoka pointed out.
“This, I am aware of. I see you still lack patience, Ahsoka.” Vader replied. He turned his fire at the surface itself, causing chunks of rock to fall in the path of Maul’s ship. To dodge, Maul fell into a dive, and swerved back around in their direction. He opened fire himself once he was in range. The comm system on their TIE turned on.
“I know you’re in there, Lady Tano. Give my regards to Kenobi.” Maul’s voice was almost laughing as he spoke, continuing to fly straight towards them.
“Tell him yourself, you half-droid freak.” Ahsoka opened the top hatch and used the Force to leap from her TIE and land on the roof of Maul’s. She ignited her sabers and slashed at the top wing fins on either side of the ship. Without that stability, the ship began to shake and spin, knocking her off. She spread her arms and legs out as she fell, but was not afraid. She watched and reached out as Maul’s TIE spun wildly out of control, fire spewing from the wings. Before it could reach the ground, the fire reached the fuel cell, which ignited in a blast that consumed the entire ship. Ahsoka couldn’t help but smile as she felt Maul’s dark presence vanish from the Force. The forgotten Sith was gone forever.
She, however, felt she was about to join him as she continued to fall. Her doubt was quickly dispelled, though, as Vader swooped in below her and she tucked herself into a ball, using the Force to slow her fall as she passed through the hatch and landed softly back inside the cockpit.
“Impressive. Most impressive.” Vader said as he guided the ship out of the larger hole he created. “My master will put your skills to good use. After you tell him where the rest of the Rebels can be found.”
“Let’s just get this over with, Anakin.” Ahsoka could feel him tense immensely at the sound of his name, but he remained silent. In reply, he set the navi-computer to take them to Coruscant, and activated the hyperdrive. As the stars stretched out around them, Ahsoka wondered what life as the last Inquisitor would be like.
“Ahsoka....” came a horribly familiar voice, straining with pain. Ahsoka’s eyes went wide as flashes of the Clone Wars raced through her mind. She saw herself fighting alongside her master, and laughing with him during the quiet times. Training sessions at the Temple, interrogations of Separatist criminals, and sharing a meal with Senator Amidala. All the good and bad times poured over her, and she became overwhelmed with anguish. Surely her master was still in there somewhere. He had to be.
She turned to look at him, and found Vader wheezing through his damaged mask, his respirator struggling to keep his airways functional. He looked up at her and half of his mask had been destroyed, revealing a single yellow-orange eye. It pierced her with malicious intent. “Ahsoka...” he breathed again.
“Anakin.” She whispered back. Behind her, Ezra was assisting his blinded master board the Phantom, the security wall almost closed now. “I won’t leave you!” Ahsoka said to Vader as he rose to his feet. “Not this time.”
Vader was silent for a few moment, his ragged breath the only thing piercing the silence. His gaze seemed to intensify as he finally spoke. “Then you will die.” His saber reignited across his face, cloaking him in its red glow.
Ahsoka narrowed her eyes at him. Then her expression softened. This wasn’t the Anakin she knew. He was totally beyond himself now. Maybe he knew something she didn’t...
“Ahsoka!!” Ezra called out behind her, after getting Kanan inside the Phantom. He began to run towards her, but she held up her arm and reached out with the Force.
Kanan came flying out of the Phantom, clutching at his neck and gagging. “Ah-Ahsoka!” He choked. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry, Kanan. But he’s my master. I made a promise that I’d follow him anywhere. I broke that promise once. I can’t break it again. She released her grip and Kanan dropped to the ground between her and Vader, who had since lowered his saber, but kept it on. He took over now and reached out with his own hand and once more raised him in the air, this time binding his limbs to his sides as if he was bound with ropes. A flick of his finger sent the temple guard mask he was wearing flying off his face and scattering across the floor. “Now, all you need to do is help us find the other Jedi. As long as I’m here, I can make sure they get a fair trial and maybe even go free. Please, Kanan.”
“Ahsoka! Stop this!” Ezra cried out from behind them. The walls were almost closed, and Ezra was lying on the ground to see underneath as his master was being tormented by Vader. In seconds, the wall sealed itself and they were separated. Ahsoka looked up at the ceiling as a surge of energy blasted its way out of the obelisk and hit the pyramid roof. The stone began to crumble and fall around them as the structure started to collapse.
“We don’t have time for this.” Ahsoka said.
“I agree,” replied Vader. He clenched his fist tightly, and Kanan screamed in pain, then fell silent as his spine and neck snapped. Vader released his grip and Kanan’s body slumped to the ground. Ahsoka closed her eyes and looked away. She hadn’t wanted that, but it was time to move on. “I am pleased that you came to your senses, my old apprentice. The Emperor will be pleased to have you on our side,” he continued, as he put his saber back on his belt.
“We’ll see about that. He won’t be pleased if we both die in here. I know a short cut.” Ahsoka ignited both her sabers and plunged them into the floor. The weakened structure collapsed beneath them, and they all fell through the floor into a corridor inside the structure below, landing on their feet. This particular corridor was the same one that Maul used to meet them earlier, and so it led outside. As they walked out, Ahsoka turned and took one last look at Kanan’s body, which had fallen with them, and laid sprawled across the debris. His blinded eyes emphasized his death with how milky white they had become. She reached out and called his lightsaber to her, clipping it to her belt alongside her own. Meanwhile, Vader tapped a button on his arm and his TIE Advanced x1 appeared and came to a hover before them. The roof hatch opened and the pair jumped inside, with Vader at the controls and Ahsoka standing behind him, feeling a bit cramped in the single person ship.
“The boy has escaped with the holocron, but I sense that Maul remains. He must not escape with what he has seen here. Help me find him.” Vader said, still rasping through his damaged mask, his voice half distorted, half his own. Ahsoka nodded and together the pair reached out with the Force, scanning the area for the shadow essence given off by the former Sith.
“There!” Ahsoka said. She pointed out the view port and saw a TIE Advance v1 taking off and flying for the surface. With all the Inquisitors dead, and Ezra leaving in the Phantom, that left only Maul at the controls. “He took one of the Inquisitors TIEs. Let’s go, Master.” She said. It felt odd calling Vader “master” once more, but it still felt right.
“He will not escape.” Vader replied. He turned his ship in the direction of Maul’s TIE and fired. Maul must have seen them coming because he sent the ship into a spin, dodging the laser fire and continuing towards the opening created when the Phantom crashed through the surface.
“If he makes it out, he’ll be free to jump to hyperspace and we’ll never see him again.” Ahsoka pointed out.
“This, I am aware of. I see you still lack patience, Ahsoka.” Vader replied. He turned his fire at the surface itself, causing chunks of rock to fall in the path of Maul’s ship. To dodge, Maul fell into a dive, and swerved back around in their direction. He opened fire himself once he was in range. The comm system on their TIE turned on.
“I know you’re in there, Lady Tano. Give my regards to Kenobi.” Maul’s voice was almost laughing as he spoke, continuing to fly straight towards them.
“Tell him yourself, you half-droid freak.” Ahsoka opened the top hatch and used the Force to leap from her TIE and land on the roof of Maul’s. She ignited her sabers and slashed at the top wing fins on either side of the ship. Without that stability, the ship began to shake and spin, knocking her off. She spread her arms and legs out as she fell, but was not afraid. She watched and reached out as Maul’s TIE spun wildly out of control, fire spewing from the wings. Before it could reach the ground, the fire reached the fuel cell, which ignited in a blast that consumed the entire ship. Ahsoka couldn’t help but smile as she felt Maul’s dark presence vanish from the Force. The forgotten Sith was gone forever.
She, however, felt she was about to join him as she continued to fall. Her doubt was quickly dispelled, though, as Vader swooped in below her and she tucked herself into a ball, using the Force to slow her fall as she passed through the hatch and landed softly back inside the cockpit.
“Impressive. Most impressive.” Vader said as he guided the ship out of the larger hole he created. “My master will put your skills to good use. After you tell him where the rest of the Rebels can be found.”
“Let’s just get this over with, Anakin.” Ahsoka could feel him tense immensely at the sound of his name, but he remained silent. In reply, he set the navi-computer to take them to Coruscant, and activated the hyperdrive. As the stars stretched out around them, Ahsoka wondered what life as the last Inquisitor would be like.