Prologue
Sabine grew up on Mandalore with her mother,father and younger sister, Miranda. The two sisters were inseparable they were truly the best of friends. But there was one thing that could separate them: the empire. At the time, Sabine's family believed in, even helped the empire. So when they were asking for cadets, Sabine gratefully applied. She was 13 at the time, which was old enough for her to enter on Mandalore. A few weeks later Sabine got the letter she had been accepted. Everyone was excited except for her little sister, she did not want Sabine to , on the day she had to leave, Sabine made her little sister a promise:
"Look" she said, "I'll never leave you, I'll be back for break before you know it." And with that, after a quick hug, Sabine left off to the academy.
The first year at the academy was ok for Sabine, but after she learned the true meaning of the empire she wanted to leave with her new friend, Ketsu. So, one night during a video chat, Sabine asked to talk to her sister alone. Her mother and father unquestionably left the two alone. Once their parents were out of earshot from the conversation, Sabine let out a sigh and began to speak.
'Okay listen to me and don't repeat any of this to anyone, especially mom got it?"
Miranda nodded.
"Look I'm only telling you this because I know I can trust you. So just promise me, for my sake, you won't cry as I tell you this." Sabine said, looking at her young 9 year old sister, knowing that what she was going to say would most definitely hurt her little sister.
"I promise" Miranda said.
"Look, there's no way to put this gently, but I'm running away from the academy. I just can't stay here any more. The empire is ruthless, destructive even, and I just can't stay here." Sabine stopped, only for a second, to think about how selfish she was being. She couldn't let that cross her mind. Ketsu would almost kill her if she did, and once she made enough money she would return to her family; that is, if she even had one left at that point. She paused just enough to look at her little sister's eyes. That was the one glance she never wanted to see in her little sister's eyes: hurt. She gazed into her sister's eyes and she too wanted to cry. She knew that if one thing went wrong exactly what it would cost her, but she also knew what it would cost her now and what might happen.
"Hey look despite what you think is going to happen tomorrow when I run away with Ketsu you're always going to be my little sister and I'll always love you, you know that." Sabine said.
" I know, I know you will but what if you get caught what if Mom and Dad get in trouble?" Miranda asked.
"One I don't get caught even when I steal a cookie from Mom and she's standing right there and two that's why I'm telling you this instead of Mom because the imperials won't come after you they'll go after Mom and maybe if there stupid anofe Dad two. Mom and Dad reveal nothing because she can't reveal what she doesn't know and they start believing it was planned not by Mom and Dad but by me and Ketsu. But I can't risk them finding you because they'll take you far away because you're special very special you have something the Empire wants so if the stormtroopers come promise me you'll run promise me you won't let them catch you just keep running and don't look back." Sabine asked of her sister.
" Yes, I promise but what about Mom and Dad ?" Miranda asked.
"Om who taught me and you how to fight they'll be fine and like I said they know none of this."
Miranda looked at her sister in sadness knowing that after this she wouldn't see her sister for a while.
"Hey don't look at me like that when this is all over will all be free you me,Mom and Dad will all be free from the empire." Sabine said.
Without Miranda's permission tears started falling down her face.
" Hey M's you promised me you wouldn't cry remember I'm also doing this with Ketsu and you know she won't let anything happen to me."
"I hope." Miranda said under her breath though what Miranda didn't know was that in a year or two that wouldn't be far from the truth. She did trust Ketsu and why wouldn't she Ketsu treated her like a little sister as well so for the time being she didn't really have a reason not to.
"I'm sorry." Miranda said.
" No I'm sorry it's okay though." Sabine stopped as she realized a tear was running down her cheek no, no , no don't cry you're not supposed to cry remember Sabine told herself.
" Sabine?" Miranda asked.
" Yes." Sabine asked forcing a smile back on her face.
" Will you be able to talk to me still?" Miranda asked.
"I,I think so most likely I'll take my data pad with me and you can message me okay." Sabine said.
"Okay." Miranda said.
"But just wait a few days let me and Ketsu clear the Mandalore system….tell you what I'll message you first then you'll know it's safe." Sabine said.
"Wait you're leaving the system." Miranda said.
"Afraid so." Sabine said.
"How are you going to leave?" Miranda asked.
" I can't say but just trust me." Sabine said.
Miranda looked at her older sister and said "I do trust you Sabine and I always will."
Sabine's eyes widened in realization that her little sister was trusting of her.
" I know you do and I trust you." Sabine said.
" M's I gotta go but know that I love you and I'll send you a message soon."
"I know and I love you too." Miranda said.
" Goodbye little sister but I promise you I'll see you again." Sabine said.
" Bye and see you soon." Miranda said the two smiled and signed off
