Work Text:
Portion from the star-log of war veteran and former rebel John Smith, detailing events on the star date of May 4, 2251
Malachor V.
If any planet in the universe could be the living embodiment of evil, this fit the bill too perfectly.
Funny thing is, I wasn't supposed to be there. My fellow rebels, Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, and Ahsoka Tano, were the only one's original heading to the centuries died planet.
I was silently hidden under the flooring of the cabin. I was lucky to be so quiet that none of them even thought to check. By the time I got out, the others had already begun their exploring of the planet.
When I got to my feet, I heard a strange sound. I looked out the front window of the Phantom and saw nothing but a died planet and a massive sinkhole that looked fresh
I tied rope from my mountain gear on the Phantom's main turret and lowered myself down into the hole. Upon reaching the bottom, I saw a massive pyramid some sixty kilometers away and there were bodies all over the place. They remind me of the ones I saw after the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 2219, which killed as many as twenty-four people, including a six-member team of scientists who were doing tests at the base of the mountain when it erupted.
I then heard the sound of lightsabers clashing in the distance. I saw three people flying through the air, their crimson blades lifting them up. The Inquisitors, only it seemed they had a third member with them this time.
I wanted to catchup with the others, who still didn't know I was there, but I heard a voice coming from a cave nearby. I entered the cave and saw a pedestal with what appeared to be an ancient lightsaber hilt laying on top.
"Take it," a voice said. "You are going to need it."
"Who's that?" I asked.
No reply.
"Show yourself!" I demanded.
A figure in a blue aroura of light appeared. He was clothed in Jedi robes that hadn't been used in centuries-nay, millennia, and his face was covered in an ancient Mandalorian mask.
"My name is Revan," the ghost replied. "Please, take the lightsaber. I'm giving it to you."
"It is yours to just give to a random stranger?" I asked.
"Smith, you are no stranger to me. I know you from everything your son has told me."
"You know James?"
"When one becomes one with the force, we all are one here. Take my lightsaber, but remember this: after today, don't wield it again until I appear to you again and tell you to use it.
"I understand."
"Good luck and may the force be with you."
I activated the weapon, and it shone a blade of purple.
I head to the pyramid and start to climb the structure. I reached the third level and saw Ezra fighting the Seventh Sister alongside... Maul? Darth Maul? That former Sith lord was still alive?
Maul began to grip the Seventh Sister with the force and taunted Ezra into kill her, however he couldn't bring himself to killing an unarmed opponent. But Maul was. Or tried.
He threw his double-bladed weapon at the Seventh Sister, who screamed in horror, and... stopped just inches from her neck. By timing it right, I stepped in front of the Inquisitor and caught the lightsaber before it hit its mark. Maul was angry, though Ezra was surprised to see me.
"Smith?" Ezra said in surprise. "What... How...?
"It's not important," I replied. "Why is he here?"
"You know him?"
"I encountered him once back in the Clone Wars. I'd hoped he was died."
"John Smith," Maul said, clearly annoyed I took the joy away from him. "Do you know who we are dealing with here?"
"Yeah." I threw a small device behind me onto the Seventh Sister and activated it, causing an electric charge to render the Inquisitor unconscious. "Taking a prisoner, thank you."
I saw Chopper fly down with the Phantom.
"Chop, strap this one down good. There's going to be a lot of interrogation with this one."
Chopper got the Inquisitor on the Phantom and flew away.
"Now," I said as I tossed Maul's lightsaber back. "Play nice."
I heard more lightsabers clashing. I saw Kanan and Ahsoka fighting the other Inquisitors just below us. I slide down the edge and knocked the newcomer off his feet. Activating the lightsaber Revan gave me, I faced the Fifth Brother along with Ahsoka.
"Smith, why are-" Ahsoka was asking me.
"Not now!" I said, blocking a strike from above my head.
As the Fifth Brother was bringing his weapon down, I grabbed his hilt and severed both his hands. Then, a crimson blade pierced his back. Maul had killed the Fifth Brother.
Kanan, meanwhile, had damaged the newcomer's weapon. He tried to fly away, but the lightsaber broke apart and he fell to his death.
"Smith, why are you here?" Kanan asked when he realized I was there.
"Look, I was curious," I replied. "And sure, curiosity killed the cat; but I'm not a cat, okay?"
"Where is Ezra?"
I looked around and realized Ezra was anywhere near us.
"Maul, where is Ezra?" I asked.
"Don't you mean my new apprentice?" he asked.
"What?"
Maul launched at me, but Kanan pushed me away and was hit by Maul's weapon instead. Maul wasted no time and began attacking Ahsoka and me. I used the Fifth Brother's weapon to fly me to the top of the pyramid, which began to shot lightning out of the point.
I saw a Tie fighter at the top and there was Darth Vader fighting Ezra. The Sith lord disarmed the young rebel, destroying the weapon he built.
Before Vader could finish off Ezra, he stopped, turned, and faced Ahsoka. They appeared to be spoking to each other, but the pyramid was so loud, I couldn't make out what they were saying. Soon, they began to fight.
Ezra turned to the device at the center of the pyramid and tried to pull something out from it but was thrown back by the lightning. Kanan appeared with Chopper and worked with Ezra to remove an object out of the device. Then, the place became unstable. Ezra and Kanan headed back to the Phantom, but something pulled Ezra the opposite way. It was Vader.
I charged at Vader and punched him in the face. When I landed, I saw Vader's entire helmet on the ground with my fist print embedded in the left eye portion of the helmet.
"Ahsoka," A voice said.
My eyes widen. That voice. I knew that voice. I turned and stared into the yellow eyes of the pale faced Sith lord.
No. No, it couldn't be. This had to be a trick. A lie.
"Smith?" Vader's voice whispered.
"Skywalker?" I said in chock. "That's impossible."
Ahsoka appeared from behind me.
"Anakin," she said, catching his attention. "I won't leave you. Not this time."
For a single moment, there was a strange silence that fell on the pyramid. The noise, the cranking of the lightning, and Vader's breathing felt deaf.
"Then you will die," Vader said, activating his lightsaber.
Ahsoka told me to leave with the others. I decided to give her time by throwing the Fifth Brother's lightsaber at Vader, who quickly blocked the throw.
I pulled Ezra in the Phantom, as he appeared to not be accepting of Ahsoka's sacrifice. I piloted the Phantom out of there and headed back to the rebel base.
All of that happened a week ago. I just now had the strength and courage to finally write this down.
Kanan is now completely blinded by the injuries he received on Malachor V and is now leaving away from the base, probably to clear his mind and find his inner peace again.
I've noticed Ezra is becoming more arrogant and tapping into his darker emotions. It's probably having something to do the Sith holocron that he took from Malachor V that has led to this change. I don't know.
The interrogation of the Seventh Sister has been, as far as I've observed, a waste of time. It could take years, if not a decade, just to get her to crack. She apparently likes it when Ezra is there, the erotic seductress. Unfortunately, she has been less successful in trying to seduce me, thank God.
As for me, I've kept my word to Revan and put the lightsaber he gave me in a secret place. Until I'll need it again, the Rebellion lives on, and the war continues.
Life, Liberty, Peace, Truth, Justice, and the Pursuit of Happiness. I will continue my part in this struggle and will honor the sacrifices of those gone before me.