A Rebel's Destiny

Twilight of the Apprentice

The Phantom flew through hyperspace to get to the planet Malachor Ezra stood next to Kanan who was piloting the ship he over heard the conversation that Ahsoka was having with Rex "once we drop out of hyperspace, we'll be going dark." She said "are you sure about this?" Rex asked Ahsoka gave a nod "yes." She answered making Rex shake his head "Ahsoka, you don't have to go to Malachor alone. I could be there in two rotations." He said worried about her "I'm not alone, Rex." She said with a smile "You know, I could have ordered you to take me along." He joked "you don't exactly outrank me anymore." Ahsoka said as she rolled her eyes "in my book, experience outranks everything." He said making the former Jedi smirk "hmm, then I definitely outrank you." She said making the clone smirk then look down "may the force be with you." He said somberly as the transmission ended "why is Rex so worried?" The hunter asked as she walked up to the left of Kanan "what does he know that I don't?" Ezra question "Malachor has always been off-limits to Jedi." Kanan answered Sam popped out "that's curious, you know why?" She asked making the Jedi knight sigh "old legends. Stories told to us as younglings in the temple." He explained making the ghost look back to the hunter "there's always a bit of truth in legends." Ahsoka said looking to the guardian "if Malachor is off-limits, why would Master Yoda send up here?" Ezra asked as he looked down trying to piece it together before they found themselves exiting Hyperspace just outside of the planet "I don't know, but I trust Master Yoda. There's something here for us." Kanan said looking between the two "probably something to help us with the inquisitors." The hunter said shrugging "knowledge." Ahsoka answered making the hunter raise a brow before putting on his helmet as they neared the planet Chopper chirped as they closed in to the ground "a ship? What type?" Ezra asked as the droid chirped again "he can't tell." The hunter said with a sigh "track it, let's see who else is interested in this place." Kanan ordered the hunter gave a nod before they closed in "woah, look, up ahead." Sam said as they came across a crater "what is that?" Ezra asked "I don't know, but the ship we're tracking went there. I'm gonna set her down." Kanan said landing the Phantom.

The three exited the ship onto the ash like ground Sam scanning around "I don't see any signs of a ship landing." She said as the three walked "it's gotta be around here somewhere. Chopper, try to get a fix on it's location." Kanan ordered the droid chirped as it gave a salute as the three closed in on a monument of some kind "what are these things?" Ezra asked as Sam scanned getting a sample for her files "this writing... it's in the old tongue." Ahsoka said the Jedi knight looked her way "can you read it?" Kanan asked Ahsoka gave an exhale "I can try. It's a very old form, I can only make out a few words." She said kneeling to get a look at the bottom and began reading in the language Ezra felt something on the rock calling him he stepped forward reaching out his hand "no! Ezra, Don't!" Ahsoka said as he touched it a red glowing handprint showed up as red light exploded outward and the floor collapsed Sam flew down to the hunter dematerialized as they fell the hunter prepped a double jump landing to his feet.

Ezra looked around as the other two fell to the ground with a grunt as the hunter's vision blurred with darkness energy as Ahsoka and Kanan stood to their feet "what is that?" He asked walking forward "A sith temple." Ahsoka answered Sam popped out again "there is no light here, something is wrong with this place." His ghost said an echo and static followed making her voice more emotionless the hunter grabbed her holding her close as they looked at the temple as they continued they found a single shine of light from above he held out his hand feeling the warmth through the armor before Chopper came on the comm he made some chirping noises "oh, we might fall through the surface? Thanks for the warning." The hunter said rolling his eyes as he walked back to the others "any fix on that ship yet?" Kanan asked causing the droid to chirp again answering his question "he's picked up the trail. This way." Kanan said as they continued Sam still hung on to Ezra's hand feeling more comfort there then in the void that is her pocket dimension "I really want to be wrong but I think whatever it is we are looking for is inside that temple." Ezra said as felt his stomach twist "seems likely. Just remember if there's a ship we aren't alone down here." Kanan said Ezra tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his gut but it persisted "Ahsoka, you said we're here to find knowledge. What kind of knowledge?" Ezra asked trying to distract himself from the sinking feeling "the forbidden kind. To defeat your enemy, you have to understand them." She said making him nod "no better place to learn about the sith, I guess." Kanan said "you know that reminds me of a quote from the art of war." Ezra said as they moved forward "well tell us it." Kanan said looking back to his student "Sun Zu said 'if you know your enemy and know yourself you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.' The rest is 'If you know yourself but not the enemy for every victory you gain you will also suffer a defeat. If you neither the enemy or yourself you will succumb in every battle.'" He quoted before he heard something he turned before dismissing it at as a hallucination.