Malachor was dark, and not just in terms of visibility.

The whole planet was entrenched in the darkside. The Sith temple before them did little to help. Like many ancient Sith temples it seemed to radiate an aura of displeasure and pain, as well as hatred, all known tenants of the darkside. To the three lightside force users present, the Sith temple under the surface of Malachor was a dangerous place to be, both physically and mentally.

It was also their goal, one that they would help them defeat Vader and his Inquisitors.

Ahsoka Tano was, to say the least, sceptical. It wasn't her first time within a Sith temple. She had explored one during her younger days underneath the former Jedi temple on Coruscant. Sure it had only been a Sith shrine, and thus paled in comparison to what laid before her and her companions, but the principle was the same nonetheless.

All she knew was that somewhere, within the temple before her, was something that could help the rebellion. Something that would help all she had worked to build over the last decade and a half.

Something to stop the man her master had become.

Anakin. Just the thought of him halted Ahsoka's mind in its tread. The man she had admired. Trained with. Fought beside.

Abandoned. She had abandoned him. And in turn he had become a monster. A monster that was now out to destroy her and her friends. Kanan and Ezra would stand no chance against Vader. Lothal had proved that. And while they had improved significantly over the recent months, Vader was still leaps and bounds ahead of them. When the time came, she would have to face Vader herself. She hoped that would be enough.

Ahsoka came out of her inner thoughts in time to hear the banter between Ezra and Kanan begin anew. The two reminded her so much of herself and Anakin during the Clone Wars. Ahsoka would never admit it, but part of her was envious of Ezra's position. The ever eager Padawan, only wanting to learn and please his master. Kanan had done well in teaching him, better than most Jedi knights and masters had done during the days of the republic.

The trio continued to walk towards the Sith temple, ever closer to what they hoped was their salvation.

"So if it's a riddle, what's the question?" Kanan quipped to Ezra.

"Why is Kanan such a... look out!" Ezra began, before reaching out and shoving Kanan aside with his own body weight.

The distinguishable sound of a lightsaber igniting, followed by a spectacular display of swordsmanship that bordered on showing off announced the arrival of the first threat the trio had encountered on Malachor. Ahsoka and her companions reacted in turn, igniting their own sabers.

"Three Jedi?!" The masked figure remarked.

"An Inquisitor?" Ezra called in alarm.

The appearance of an Inquisitor was not an unforeseen outcome. Ahsoka had half expected Vader's minions to find her here. Malachor was a focus point for the darkside of the force. No doubt the darkside users throughout the galaxy could feel when two Jedi and one former Jedi just strolled in.

That being said, Ahsoka wasn't expecting an Inquisitor to already be present on Malachor. Did Vader know what her plan was? Or was the Inquisitor here for a different reason?

Ahsoka didn't have time to mentally debate it any further. The Inquisitor before them had vaulted back from his three adversaries, clearly knowing he was outmatched. At least he was smarter than the previous Inquisitors Ahsoka had come across.

As the three lightside users prepared to charge the Inquisitor, said darksider had an unexpected trick up his sleeve. A series of unknown explosives came barrelling out of thin air towards them. Ahsoka didn't stop to think. She allowed her instincts to guide her. Summoning the power within her, she used the force to push Kanan and Ezra clear of the blast radius. As the two landed safely away, Ahsoka used the next pivotal seconds to minimize the damage that was about to occur to her. Ducking down to shield herself, Ahsoka felt the explosion centimetres in front of her. The explosion knocked her onto her back, and then to make matters worse, the floor gave way again.

The trio had already fallen through one layer of Malachor's surface. And now Ahsoka was experiencing it again. Pivoting her body to land in a roll, Ahsoka landed semi-comfortably. From the layer above her, Ezra called out.

"Ahsoka? You ok? Ahsoka?"

"Fine." Ahsoka called in reply. "Slightly bruised."

Ahsoka quickly analysed the situation. The hole above was too high for her to jump. She had managed higher before, but her recent fall, coupled with the presence of the Sith temple seemed to be having a draining effect on her usage of the force, and she didn't want to submit to the darkside in order to manage a small jump.

"Go on without me. I'll catch up." Ahsoka ordered. She could hear Kanan telling Ezra to follow him, no doubt in pursuit of the Inquisitor.

"If I can find a way up that is." Ahsoka mumbled to herself.

"I can help you." An aged voice called to her from the shadows.

Ahsoka shifted to get a better look, allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness around her.

A unknown figure stood before her, shrouded in darkness. Unknown in the darkness, but the voice. She swore she recognized it.

"You fell down here. I can help you get out." The figure spoke again.

Something within her shifted. Ahsoka knew that voice. She had heard it before. But she couldn't place it. It sounded old. Beaten. Worn out. Yet wise. And encouraging at the same time.

So she took her chances against her better judgement.

"Who are you?" Ahsoka inquired. "Why are you here?"

Simple questions. Straight to the point. Hopefully the figure would be receptive to that.

"Why Lady Tano, I'm almost disappointed you didn't recognize me." The figure responded, yet this time there was a hint of malice in the voice.

Ahsoka's body went cold.

Only one person had called her that before, in mockery.

On Mandalore, before the purge. That was the last time she had heard that voice.

Darth Maul emerged from the shadows before her.

"As for what I'm doing here. The same as you Lady Tano. Seeking a way to destroy the Sith!"