Maul: Legacy of Shadows

Chapter 23: Influence

***Year 4 BBY***Coincides with Star Wars: Rebels "Twilight of the Apprentice"

As Ezra crashed through the rocky chasm, he coughed as the dust filled the air, and he was surrounded by nothing but darkness.  Telling himself he would catch up to his master and Ahsoka, he wondered where this cavern would lead him.

"I know where you are.  You're with me," a voice called out from within the shadows.

Igniting his lightsaber on reaction, the blue glow tried to desperately penetrate the all-consuming shadows that spanned in all directions.  Ezra reached out with the Force to find the origin of the voice, sensing his presence was nearby.  Finally sensing where this person was hiding, Ezra quickly pointed his lightsaber towards the voice.  The blue glow barely reached the unseen person, giving them a slight silhouette within the shadows.

Ezra warned his foe to stay back, but the figure approached slowly, explaining how he had been alone for so long.  As he slowly came into view, Ezra noticed he was a cloaked figure holding onto a small wooden cane.  The Force subtly warned him of danger, but the frail figure caused his resolve to waver slightly.  Within the darkness, the figure smiled to himself, as he felt his ruse was wearing down the confidence of the young Jedi before him.

"I'm sorry, I wish I could help you, but I have to get back to my friends," Ezra finally replied, hoping to placate the shadowy figure who was radiating an aura of weakness.

For just a moment, almost unseen to all, a glimmer of power sparked within the person hiding in the shadows.  Ezra almost felt it, but his lack of Jedi training and the words of the figure had him convinced otherwise.

"Perhaps I could help you?" the cloaked figure shot back, his voice getting less raspy with every passing word.

Ezra doubted it.  The figure pressed on, using the Force to weaken the young Jedi and help convince him to use his help.

"You seek knowledge," the figure said, his words finally causing an obvious reaction in Ezra, who quickly turned towards the shadowy person.

"It's in the temple, isn't it?" Ezra asked, his curiosity finally taking control.

"And I know the secret way to get inside, but I'm too old, I need help to open the door," the figure replied back, knowing that his chance at revenge was nearing completion.

After some more brief exchanges, both figures disappeared into the dark recesses towards the temple's entrance, the young Jedi eager to find a method to get his personal revenge on the Sith for what they had done to the Jedi. The robed figure merely smiled as he felt the anger building in the young boy, he had found himself a worthy apprentice indeed.

***

Both Jedi were following closely behind the Eighth Brother, but he knew if he could reach his ship in time, he could activate its defenses to help him even the odds.  As his ship slowly came into view, the Inquisitor felt something wasn't quite right.  As the cockpit of his ship came into view, he noticed a small droid sitting at the entrance.  Landing on a small rock outcropping, the Inquisitor threw his lightsaber at the droid, hoping to end its existence and allow him time to activate his ship.

The droid moved ever so slightly, and the blades passed harmlessly by but scratching the edge of his ship with a loud slicing sound.  The hatch blasted open, and the droid jumped into the seat while deploying small mechanical arms to grasp the controls.

"Filthy droid!" the Eighth Brother exclaimed, angered at the actions of the small mechanical construct.

The Inquisitor never got a chance to attack the droid, as both Jedi had finally caught up to him, their lightsabers ablaze and poised to strike.  Spinning around quickly, the Eighth Brother found himself trapped on both sides, but he was still confident in his own abilities and his training as an Inquisitor.  Activating his lightsaber's rotors, he slowly readied himself to pounce, only to hear the engines of his ship start up.  A loud blast came from behind, and the Inquisitor was barely able to deflect the two blaster bolts careening at him from his own ship's cannons.