Ahsoka and Rex have a conversation about her trip to Malachor. The captain would like to join her on the dangerous mission, but she insists that she go alone. “May the Force be with you,” Rex solemnly tells her.

Ezra questions why Rex is so worried and Kanan and Ahsoka tell him that legend claims Malachor to be a dangerous place for Jedi. “If Malachor’s off-limits, why would Master Yoda send us here?” Ezra asks. “I don’t know, but I trust Master Yoda. There’s something here for us,” Kanan states. “Knowledge,” Ahsoka adds.

The Jedi land the Phantom on Malachor and approach several pillars with text written in the “old tongue" on them. Ahsoka can only make out a few words, but before she can finish, Ezra reaches out and places his hand on the pillar. It cracks with streaks of red light like a lightning bolt.

The ground parts and the trio falls swiftly underground, landing with a thud. When they rise, Ezra notices a gleaming red peak at the top of a pyramid in the distance. “What is that?” he asks. “A Sith temple,” Ahsoka answers.

The group walks closer to investigate, and Chopper informs them that he’s picked up the trail of an incoming ship. Kanan worries that they soon won’t be alone. Ahsoka explains to Ezra that the knowledge they are seeking is the forbidden kind. “To defeat your enemy, you have to understand them.”

Pressing onward, they discover the ground of their surroundings is scorched. Ezra also finds a green-bladed, crossguard lightsaber, ignites it, and it burns out. “This was a battlefield,” Kanan speculates.

Remembering her Jedi teachings, Ahsoka believes that a battle took place when the Jedi attacked the Sith temple, but it ended in a draw. Ezra believes the whole planet of Malachor is some sort of riddle. “So if it’s a riddle, what’s the question?” Kanan asks. Before Ezra can finish his sentence, an Inquisitor strikes!

Suddenly the ground falls through again, sending Ezra abruptly down another level of the temple. A slumped over and shrouded figure emerges and Ezra ignites his lightsaber. The stranger’s gravelly voice tells Ezra, “Please put your weapon away, I… I mean you no harm!”

Ezra remains guarded. The mysterious figure tells him he has been living alone in the dark for years without speaking to anyone, but not by choice. After his ship crashed, he’s been stranded here. He knows Ezra’s motives. “You came for the same reason I did years ago. You seek knowledge!”

The knowledge Ezra seeks is in the temple, but the old man can’t open the door without his help. The young one comes closer, and lets the stranger lead him to the doorway. Finally, he reveals his identity. “Call me, Old Master.”

Meanwhile Kanan and Ahsoka continue to chase the Inquisitor. It is rare that the Jedi are hunting the enemy and not the other way around. “I don’t think he was looking for us,” Kanan says. “Then who is he tracking?” Ahsoka asks. Chopper interrupts on the com and Kanan orders him to find this mysterious ship that he’s tracked.

Ezra and Old Master discuss the Inquisitors. The man tells the Padawan that all inquisitors and their Masters are his enemy, leaving Ezra to guess he may be a Jedi… or a Sith.

“The Sith. The Sith took everything from me, ripped me from my mother’s 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 know how you feel,” Ezra sadly declares. His sorrow turns to anger as he describes what the Empire has done to him. He doesn’t want revenge… he wants justice. Old Master assures him he will help him get justice if they get to the temple and defeat the Sith.

Chopper makes his way to the Inquisitor’s TIE fighter. He hops inside before the enemy can get away. “Filthy droid!” the Eighth Brother Inquisitor yells. Ahsoka and Kanan have him caught.

Ezra and his companion reach their destination. Old Master explains the key to unlocking the temple. He knows much about the Sith, but only because he must know them in order to defeat them. Or so he claims…

Ezra reaches out and begins to use the Force to open the temple door. He forgets the Jedi way and uses his emotions, opening and closing doors with the help of his new friend.

Ezra has come to trust his new friend and consequently divulges his real name. Old Master explains that he had a real name long ago but can’t remember. “Now, now I am called… Maul.”

Ahsoka and Kanan have caught the Inquisitor and now interrogate him. He reveals there are many more Inquisitors and nothing can save them. He was not expecting them, stating that he is on Malachor hunting a shadow not the rebel Jedi.

Ezra and Maul come upon the Sith holocron -- holding all the information they need. Ezra tells Maul to throw him with the Force, and he is able to retrieve the artifact. Then, the walls start to shake. Kanan orders Chopper to get back to the Phantom and prepare for an escape.

The Padawan continues to trust Maul, risking dangerous feats to help him. Ahsoka and Kanan stand on the outside of the Sith temple with the Inquisitor. They’re soon joined by the Seventh Sister and Fifth Brother Inquisitors.

Maul shows Ezra that the holocron has the power to open doors. He opens one, revealing Ahsoka and Kanan battling the Inquisitors. Ezra says he brought Maul to help, but those who are familiar with him think otherwise.

The dark side and the light begin to battle. Maul works against the Inquisitors, showing he has no allegiances. The Seventh Sister Inquisitor questions Maul’s motives, assuming he has already taken the holocron.

Ahsoka asks Maul about the game he seems to be playing. As the enemy of their enemy, Maul believes they can work together. But he warns that Vader will be coming soon. Kanan is not convinced that Maul will help them take on Vader -- or that Maul is really on their side. Ezra assures his master to trust him and shows them the holocron.

“Ezra, there is no way a Jedi can unlock that holocron,” Ahsoka states. But Maul assures the Padawan that he can unlock the temple itself. He needs to connect the holocron to the obelisk in the chamber. Kanan is skeptical but agrees. Maul leads the way.

Kanan and Ezra argue about Maul’s intentions until they are joined by an Inquisitor in flight, lifted by the blades of his lightsaber. Kanan is knocked over, and the Inquisitor fights Ezra for the holocron. Maul strikes just in time, sending the Inquisitor careening away, his saber acting like a helicopter blade.

Kanan agrees to split the group up, the logical choice pairing Maul with the weakest of the Jedi. Maul instructs Ezra to find the same strength inside him that is used by the Sith. Fighting without mercy or remorse will make them victorious. Remembering Kanan’s teachings, Ezra questions himself.

Then, The Seventh Sister approaches, and while Kanan and Ahsoka are immediately met by the Fifth Brother. Maul raises the Seventh Sister and orders Ezra to strike her down… but he can’t. Maul takes care of it for him and hurls his saber at the female Inquisitor, killing her. “The next time you hesitate like that it may cost you your life, or the lives of your friends,” Maul scolds.

Ezra is told to quickly place the holocron in the obelisk to activate the temple and gain the knowledge he seeks. Maul descends to help Kanan and Ahsoka defeat the remaining Inquisitors. He does so easily, sending them both plunging to their death.

“Where’s Ezra?” Kanan asks. “You mean, my apprentice?” Maul responds. In an instant, the dark side force-wielder slashes Kanan in the face with his double-bladed saber. The Jedi falls, covering his eyes. Ahsoka takes up arms.

Meanwhile the Padawan has reached the top of the temple with the holocron. It floats from his hands into the obelisk and sets off an electric current paired with a female voice.

“Who comes forth?” The voice beckons. Ezra explains he is seeking knowledge. The voice tells him “knowledge is power” and there is an explosion of light -- a laser shoots from the top of the temple and up through the ground above.

Maul battles Ahsoka, telling her that Ezra will soon be his and he cannot be stopped. Kanan, still holding his eyes, fumbles to grab a temple guard mask nearby. He dons the mask, orders Ahsoka to get Ezra, and takes her spot in the fight against Maul.

Kanan and Maul exchange a quick burst of combat until Kanan gets the upper hand. He grabs Maul by the wrist and hurls him off the side of the platform. He falls, yelling as he descends. Chopper’s voice comes from the com and Kanan orders a pick-up. But he learns there is a TIE fighter enroute.

Ezra, still at the top of the temple, is told by the voice that he now has the power to destroy life. Realizing he was tricked by Maul, the Padawan runs to find Ahsoka and Kanan, but instead is met by the Sith Lord himself, Darth Vader, slowly descending atop his TIE fighter.

“You have unlocked the secret of the temple. How did you accomplish this?” Vader bellows. “You’re smart, figure it out!” Ezra quips back. They begin to battle. Vader assures him that his powers will soon serve the Emperor.

“I don’t fear you,” the young one says in confidence. “Than you will die braver than most.” The Sith Lord replies. Vader hurls a heavy blow at Ezra, knocking him over and breaking his lightsaber into pieces.

Before Vader can continue, Ahsoka Tano arrives. “Our long awaited meeting has come at last,” he says.

Vader is seeking the remaining Jedi, but Ahsoka assures him he has killed them all. She acknowledges Vader’s past as her master, though he dismisses it by calling Anakin weak. Ahsoka wants to avenge him.

“Revenge is not the Jedi way,” he reminds her. “I am no Jedi,” she fiercely replies. They ignite their lightsabers and Ahsoka attacks. As they fight, Ezra attempts to take the holocron from the obelisk, but he is unsuccessful.

“It takes a master and an apprentice.” Kanan Jarrus has returned, guided by Chopper. He still wears the temple guard mask, and Ezra questions it. The Padawan helps his Master to the holocron, and realizes he has lost his sight.

Vader and Ahsoka continue to forcefully duel, the Togruta using acrobatics and impressive technique. But the Sith Lord pulls ahead. He force pushes her off the platform and she falls below.

Together the masked Jedi with his apprentice pull the holocron from the obelisk and are sent flying backward, holocron in hand. The temple begins to collapse, and Chopper has arrived with the Phantom. But just before they make it safely, Ezra begins to be pulled backward…

It is Vader. He Force pulls the young Padawan toward him, eager to steal the holocron, but Kanan holds on tightly. Ahsoka lunges from behind and catches him off guard, slashing the Sith in the mask with her saber and sending him to the ground. Ezra yells for her to hurry and join them, but Vader’s next words stop her in her tracks.

“Ahsoka.” Vader’s mask has been damaged, revealing the eye of Anakin Skywalker. Ahsoka is softened by the sight of her former Master. “I won’t leave you. Not this time,” she says.

“Then you will die,” he responds. Ezra yells out for his friend, but she force pushes him back behind the lowering temple wall. Ezra watches the ensuing fight as the wall lowers and they are out of sight. He joins his Master in the Phantom and they escape the horror just as the temple explodes in a beam of light.

The Phantom returns to Atollon. Ezra helps Kanan out of the shuttle to the awaiting members of the Ghost crew. Hera runs toward Kanan, touches his covered eyes, and embraces him.

Rex comes to check for his Clone War comrade, and Ezra gives him a telling stare. Rex closes his eyes. He knows Ahsoka did not make it back.

Maul has not been defeated. He pilots a TIE fighter away from Malachor with a menacing grin.

Vader emerges from the rubble of the temple. His mask sliced, his voice box wheezing, he is limping. A convor flies from the top of the temple. An image of the back of Ahsoka Tano is seen walking back down into the temple.

Back in the Ghost, Ezra still holds the holocron. It levitates in his palm, and his eyes intensely reflect the beaming red light.