Are We Meant To Be? *2nd book of the Other Half Trilogy*

~ Ch. 77 ~

                  Ahsoka's POV

    "You have her?!" I asked, relieved that they found Acarna. Kylo moved and his brother, Gajeel, was holding Acarna and I sighed in relief. Kylo appeared gain. "Head to the top of the Temple. That is where the Jedi are headed. Your Prince will be with them. Make sure that you get him as well. I shall be there in a few minutes along with Starkiller and Talon." I said, then ended the call.

    "Mistress, has the Princess been located?" Talon asked, coming into the room with Starkiller. "Yes, the Ren's have Acarna." I told her. They both sighed in relief. They are both close to Acarna. With Starkiller being her Master and Talon's son Zalaan being her bestfriend, it's hard not to get close.

    "What is our next move?" Talon asked me. I stood and faced Malachor. "Simple. Kill the three Jedi and get back my children." I said, as we were headed to the shuttle that would take us to the planet's surface. "And what about your son's other Half?" Starkiller asked. "We will give him the choice to join us with Ezra, or he will die." I said.

            Ezra's POV

    "We shouldn't have left her back there!" I said as we kept running. "She'll be fine. She is a very strong woman." Obi-wan said. "Her Mother raised her." Dad said. I'm not sure if that's a good thing.......or a bad thing. We stopped when another person appeared in front of us. I haven't seen this person before. But, he looks like an Inquisitor. He stood and we got into our fighting stances.

    "The Mistress was right. Four Jedi and the Prince. It's time to come home, your Highness. I will destroy anyone who gets in my way." the shark-like Inquisitor said. "Stay back Ezra!" Kanan said to me, then the three of them charged at the Inquisitor. "I'm not hanging back!" I said, charging after them. When I went to take another step, the floor under me caved in and I was falling........again.

    "Ow...." I mumbled as I rubbed my head. I stood up and saw Kanan looking down, worried. "Go get him! I'll find another way up!" I called to him. He nodded, reluctantly and disappeared. I turned on my saber and started walking, looking for a way to get back to them. Until, I came across another person, with a walking stick and a cloak.

    "Stay back! I'm warning you old man!" I said, igniting my saber. "Forgive me, I've been alone so long.....it's been years since I've spoken to anyone." he said.  "You live here alone? In the dark?" I asked. "Not by choice. My ship crashed. I've been trapped.......marooned, I've had to scrounge and scrape to survive." he said. "I'm sorry but, I can't help you. I have to get back to my friends." I explained, looking back up at the hole. "Perhaps I could help you." he said. "I doubt that." I said. "Why are you here?" he asked. "I'm not going to tell you that." I said. "You came for the same reason I did years ago. You seek knowledge." he said. This got me curious......how does this old man know this?

    "It's in the Temple isn't it?" I asked. "And I know the secret way to get inside it. But.......I am too old to get inside. I need help to open the door." the man explained. "What's inside?" I asked him. "Help me and find out." he offered. "Show me this doorway." I said. "Please, this way." he said, expecting me to go first. I wasn't having it. "You first." I said. "You don't trust me?" he asked. " I don't know you." I said. "Well, then let's change that. Call me Old Master. And you?" the Old Master said. "Call me Jabba." I said. "Well then, this way Jabba." Old Master said, leading the way.

    "How much further?" I asked. "You worry about your friends." he said it more like a statement than a question. "They need my help." I stated. "Yes and with good reason. The Inquisitor is powerful." he said. This brought up a red flag for me. "Wait......you know about the Inquisitor?" I asked him. "He is my enemy. All Inquisitors and their Masters are my enemies." he said. "Were......you're a Jedi?" I asked him. "No..........no......but I was once a Force wielder. Long, long ago....." the man said. Then it all clicked. "Then you're a Sith!" I said, getting defensive. Old Master looked at me then at the ground.

    "The Sith.........the Sith took everything from me. Ripped me from my Mothers arms. Murdered my Brother. Used me as a weapon and then cast me aside. Abandoned me. Once I had power........now I have nothing.....nothing." I said. I sympathized with him. "I know how you feel. The Empire took away my home and my Aunt and Uncle." I said. "And you want revenge." he stated. "No I want justice!" I explained. "Yes, yes! And you shall have it! For I have discovered the key." he said. "The key to what?" I asked, curious. "The key to destroying the Sith!" he explained. "That is the knowledge inside the Temple?!" I asked, amazed. "Yes! That Temple holds secrets of the Sith. Secrets that have been buried for thousands of years!" he explained. This got me curious....."And you'll share this knowledge with me?" I asked him. "Yes, yes of course!" he said. I continued to light our path to the Temple. Knowing that I'd be getting the key to freeing the Galaxy from the Sith.......and my Mother. After some time, we finally came to the door.

   "Woah...." I said. "A place of worship for some. For others, an engine of destruction. But at it's heart our prize!" he explained. "But, how do we get in?" I asked. "Two must lift these stones. No more no less. That is the way of the Sith." he said. "You seem to know an awful lot about them." I said. "To defeat your enemy, you must know your enemy." Old Master said. "Now, young Jedi. Help me." he asked. I focused on the stones.........it took time but, we finally got in. After we helped each other, I decided to tell him my real name. "My names Ezra.......my real name." I said. "Real name? Yes, I once had a real name.....So long ago.......I don't remember.......No........now I am called.........Maul." He told me, putting his hood down and I saw that he was a red Zabrak with black markings. We made our way to the center of the Temple.

    "Behold the key!" Maul said. "It's..........a Holocron?" I said, surprised. "You know of them?" he asked. "Yeah, my Master has one only.......different." I explained. "Because this is a Sith Holocron. One that holds all their secrets." he stated. "Well..........how do we get it?" I asked, confused about this. "It is a test. Only someone with the courage to risk oblivion is worthy to claim it." he explained. I thought for a few moments than remembered some moves that Kanan and I were practicing. I told him to throw me and.......it worked! I grabbed the Holocron and the Temple activated. I jumped and Maul caught me.

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[ I'M SO SORRY THAT THIS TOOK ME FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!! I just had a family reunion on the 4th and I didn't have this ch. done before than and I really wanted to update it!! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!!

YUP I DID IT!!!!! I ADDED MAUL!!!!!!!! Honestly I've always liked Maul.......

    Oh dear...........seems like there's going to be an awkward Mother-Daughter reunion.........oh gawd!! I can picture the look on Ahsoka's face if Acarna tells her she's pregnant!!!! Uh-oh!!!! Better watch out Zeb!!!!

    Specter 7 out!!!!!!!!! ]