Consequences

Chapter 41 - The Phantom Apprentice

"Ahsoka Tano, is it?" the Sith Lord asks, his gaze fixed on me where I stand unmoving in the center of the room. "But I can't say yours is a name familiar to me."

"Well, I know you," I retort, eyes narrowed as he steps down and walks towards us.

He pauses a distance away, his eyes flickering to Anakin. "And Anakin Skywalker."

"It was stupid of you to bring us here," Anakin snaps, eyes narrowed. "I haven't forgotten what you've done."

"This is indeed a surprise," Maul remarks, "But not an unwelcome one."

I blink. "You wanted us to come?" Why? What is he planning? Why does he have such a focus on Anakin? I don't like this. Not one bit.

"I was certain Kenobi would have come himself," Maul replies, continuing his pacing.

I turn to face him, crossing my hand as I do, and discreetly pushing a button on my comm to contact Rex. They need to get here. I'm not foolish enough to think I can fight both Maul and the warriors at once, and the fight is only a matter of time.

"Master Kenobi was otherwise occupied," I retort. In finding Sidious. And protecting Padme.

Maul faces his back to us for a moment, then turns around, yellows eyes glowing almost predatorily in the darkness. "Why you? Why did Kenobi send you?"

"Why don't you surrender and then we can both go and ask him?" I offer.

"My surrendering. Well, that would be pointless," chuckles the Sith, "For if I am correct, the Jedi and the Republic will no longer be the controlling interests in the galaxy. They will fall, and something new shalt take their place." He knows what's going to happen, not like it's a surprise. I'm sure Sidious told him some about his plans for the future.

Luckily, Anakin knows I contacted Rex. That's probably the only thing keeping him from jumping the Sith right then and there. The anger prickling through our bond is the strongest I've ever felt it since we fought Sidious. "And just who do you think that'll be?" he demands sharply, "You?" I can tell it's taking every last bit of my brother's self-will not to try killing him. It seems he may have learned a bit from the entire hassle on the Invisible Hand. Or maybe it's just everything I've taught him about being a Gray Jedi I've learned over the past half year.

"No," comes the reply. "Darth Sidious." I draw in a breath at the mention of the name. Not if I can help it.

"You're wrong!" Anakin snaps.

All at once, blaster shots ring out behind us, and we whirl around to see the clones shooting down the Mandalorian warriors in the doorway.

Maul snarls, igniting his lightsaber and swinging for Anakin. In a flash of blue and green, the end of his lightsaber meets three others. We shove him back with ease, striking out towards him a few more times. "Not yet!" he hisses, Force-shoving us back. Before I can move forwards again, the Force tightens around my neck, lifting me into the air. Anakin releases a cry of rage, lunging forwards, only for Maul to throw me at him. We're thrown across the room into the wall, landing on the floor next to each other.

"Come on!" Anakin shouts, scrambling to his feet and running for the doorway. Maul and the remaining warriors have already disappeared through it into the darkness. I dash after, the clones following. At least right now, I can hear them running further down the tunnel, but the distance between us is still increasing. No, they cannot get away. I use the Force to increase my speed as we go.

Anakin suddenly slams to a halt so fast I skid right into him, but he somehow manages to keep his balance. "Split up," he orders, taking the right. I take off down the left, the group of clones splitting equally between us. Rex takes off after Anakin, Fives after me.