Chapter Text
Time seemed to warp as our feet hit the floor in the past. The deafening blast that shattered the window made our ears ring, and I shook the fog from my mind, looking ahead. We were at the entrance to the throne room, Ahsoka nearest to us, Maul distant.
We wasted no time. Ahsoka was faster, and as she appeared in her past self's view, my younger form noticed the both of us, seizing up in alarm.
The young Ahsoka took a step back from her elder.
Time and volume resumed. "Ahsoka, please!" She begged. "He's right- about everything. Just this once, believe me."
Her younger self took more steps back, and Ahsoka extended her hand. My younger self finally lowered his, watching. I turned my attention to him, approaching in confidence despite the limp in my step from age. He, too, steps back from me. "You can't be...."
"I am. And you know it; through the Force, you know it," I confirm. I turn to observe the Ahsokas beside us. The younger looks at us, and herself, a few times. I can fathom her disbelief.
"You trust him?" She asks herself honestly.
"No. But he's telling the truth for once, and right here, right now, we have a chance," she explains.
"A chance? To do what? If he's told the truth, the Jedi are no more, and it's too late," she reasons.
"It is not too late, Ahsoka- what replaces the Republic is an Empire ruled by Sideous. He orchestrated both sides of this War, Ahsoka, the War that we grew up in and that will kill everyone we love. And what comes next? An oppressive, cruel, and genocidal Empire, and a Rebellion full of good people that are dying every day trying to fight it. We have a chance to kill Sideous now, to stop the Order, to save our friends. Please," Ahsoka begs. "Let this be the end of it."
Younger Ahsoka has held her elder's gaze for this whole moment, and now she glances at her other's extended hand. She takes it, looking up at us this time.
"I believe you. But I will not trust you."
"A wise decision," I taunt, though the severity of this situation is not lost. I turn to my younger self. "Our entire life has been a reaction, a response to what has been done to us and what happend around us. We have never been in control. We have never been free. And we never will be....if this fails. You have one chance. One. Make it count....end our suffering," I tell him, and I watch as a subtle realization registers in our minds. He nods, our mind resolved.
"And what happens after?" He asks; a fair question, and I admire our continued streak of thorough- ish- planning. I can sense his hopefulness. But I must chastise that greed.
"Only this, Maul. Ensure Sideous dies, by any and all means necessary. Gain allies. Amass an army. Tolerate those who would benefit this cause, and do not concern yourself with your own gain. Our fate is undetermined from here; I failed in my time. You. Will. Not."