Twilight of the Apprentice Part 1

Axle's POV

Kanan, Ezra, Ahsoka, and I jumped to hyperspace in the Phantom. We spoke to Rex and Chase in the back of the small shuttle. I could hear a small stutter in their voices. "Look I know you've been there before Axle, but both times you went there something happened about that vision with Ahsoka. What if that vision comes true?" Chase asked. I wrapped my arms around Ahsoka, "We can handle this. I believe if the force wants me back to this planet a third time, I think it is important we go." "Are you sure you don't need help? We can be there in two rotations." Rex replied. Ahsoka smiled and sighed, "We'll be fine." Rex smiled, "You know, I could have ordered you two to take us along." Ahsoka giggled, "You don't exactly outrank us anymore. And Axle always outranked you since the Second Battle of Geonosis." I laughed a little to. I remember being called First Commander. That didn't feel right anymore. I'm used to being called General or Master now. Damn, Ahsoka and I have gotten super mature. Rex rolled his eyes, "In my book, experience outranks everything." I rolled my eyes back at him, "Then we definitely outrank you." Chase sighed and looked at Rex, then back to us, "Be safe kids."

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We dropped out of hyperspace above Malachor. Kanan looked back at us as I walked over to him, "Axle?" I nodded, "Yep. That's Malachor." I took in a deep breath, "Ok, before we land let's get one thing straight. This planet is a dark side homeworld. Anything and everything is to be considered a threat, but DO NOT attack first." Ezra nodded and looked back at the dark planet.

We entered the atmosphere. I looked around until I saw it, "There, those are the temple ruins." Ezra looked at me confused," Temple ruins?" I closed my eyes, "The last time I was here some Sith spirits thrived in a small temple on the surface. My great great blah blah blah blah great Grandfather was the almighty power until I freed him from the darkness. He and I battled the dark spirits. I blew up the temple in the process. By doing so I thought all the dark spirits were destroyed, but.....I sense even more darkness than before." Ahsoka placed her arm around me as the ship landed.

We walked out of the Phantom and over to what was left of the Sith temple. The pillars were still in place with ancient writing on it. "This writing. It's in the old tongue." Ahsoka said, skimming her hands across the ancient words. "Can you read it?" Kanan asked. Ahsoka paused for a moment, "I can only make out a few words." I placed my hand on her shoulder. She nodded and stepped back. I closed my eyes and took my mind to the darkness. I opened my eyes as they turned their Sith yellow. I knelt down and began to read, "Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The force shall set me free." I looked up at Ahsoka, "The Sith code." I looked over to Ezra who was reaching out to touch the pillar, "WAIT EZRA, DON'T!!!" It was too late. Ezra touched the pillar and the ground beneath us broke apart. We fell hundreds of feet below.

We all hit the ground hard. I shook my head as my eyes came back to their normal color, "Ow. Ok that hurt." "You're not the one who landed on solid rock." Kanan yelled. I looked towards him as he slowly stood up. He landed on large boulders. I ran over to Ahsoka to help her up, "Do those boulders remind you of anything?" She shook her head recovering from the fall, "Those....Those are the same rock formations from Mortis." I nodded, "Well, we know we're in the right place." "Uh, guys?" We turned to see Ezra pointing at a large temple. I stared in awe, "I had no idea this was here."

I looked up at the ceiling as we walked. It was just like the night sky. Dim lights flowed through the dark rock. "Hey, look a lightsaber." Ezra broke the silence. He picked it up and ignited it. A green crossguard saber glowed in the dark. It switched off and Ezra placed it back down. We all looked around. "This was a battlefield." Kanan said. I nodded, "Yes. Thousands of years ago. I remember this in my studies back during the Clone Wars. The Sith Eternal and his Sith warriors were attacked by the Jedi." Ezra looked confused again, "I thought there were only two Sith." I looked back at him, "It wasn't always like that. The rule of two started only when Darth Bane took power." "Who won this battle?" I looked at Ahsoka again. "Nobody won." She answered for me.

"LOOK OUT!!!" Ezra yelled to Kanan as he pushed him aside and ignited his blade. A helmeted Inquisitor struck down at him. The rest of us ignited our blades as Ezra was pushed back. "So, it's true. Little Kaleb lives." Kanan looked at me, "What is he talking about?" The Inquisitor laughed "Did Axle not tell you?" I got angry, "I beat you back at the Imperial complex. What makes you think you can stand against all of us, Jax." I could feel Kanan's heart rate go up, "Jax? That's Jax? Jax is alive?" Jax laughed even more, "NO! Your friend is dead. I am now in control. You cannot change that." Kanan looked like he was gonna throw up. I grit my teeth, "How about I beat your skull until Jax pops out?" Ahsoka and I engaged with him.

Jax fell back and jumped on top of the rocks. He forced pushed Ezra away and he tumbled down a large hole. We ran over to him, "Kid, you ok?" I heard him coughing, "Yea, I'm fine. Go get him. I'll meet you later." I nodded to Kanan. Ahsoka already started running, "Come on."

Kanan, Ahsoka, and I chased Jax for a while. I got close enough to blast a wave of force lightning which knocked him off his feet. Ahsoka force pulled his red saber to her hand and clipped it to her belt. All three of us pointed our blades at Jax. We cuffed him and dragged him to a large boulder. Kanan stood aside. He was still trying to process that another one of his close friends is now a servant for the Emperor.

Ahsoka and I stood above him as Kanan walked up behind us to listen. "Jax, I know you're in there. Why did you let this monster take control of you?" I asked and removed his helmet. His hair was a mess and sweaty. His eyes were a deep hatred of yellow. He hissed, "WHILE YOU TWO WERE MAKING PLEASURE POUNDING YOUR DICK INTO HER PUSSY, I WAS TORTURED NON-STOP BY ELECTROCUTION AND PAIN!!! FOR MONTHS I RESISTED, BUT THEY BROKE ME!!! AFTER THAT, I WAS TASKED BY SETTING FREE ALL THE NON-IMPORTANT CRIMINALS AT THE CORUSCANT PRISON!!!" I nodded, "So that's how you ran into Barriss." He looked down, "My love for her was not a lie. I had a choice to leave her. I did not." I put my hand on his shoulder, "Come with us. You can leave this pain behind." Jax shook his head, "I must obey my Master. If I turn against him, he will give a punishment worse than death." Ahsoka looked in his eyes, "If you come with us, we can protect you." Jax looked down and thought it over.

Out of nowhere, more red blades appeared and attacked. The Seventh Sister and Fifth Brother released Jax and he grabbed his saber. I looked into his eyes. For a split second, I thought I saw Jax again, but he was gone. The six of us engaged each other.

I heard rocks moving behind us, "Axle, Ahsoka, Kanan, I brought help." I turned to see Ezra and someone familiar. Ahsoka and I both dropped our jaws, "Maul?" The old Sith laughed, "What fun. WHAT FUN!!!"