The Wrong turn: Part 1
In this alternate paradox, Ketsu Onyo had not betrayed and left Sabine Wren behind and the two remained as Bounty Hunters. Sabine never joins Hera and Kanan, she and Ketsu take any type of Bounty jobs that give them the Credits they desire. Ezra does join the Ghost Crew and he begins his training as a Jedi. Gaining the attention of the Imperials who place a very large Bounty on the Ghost Crews capture.
Sitting with her feet on the desk, Sabine waited with Ketsu for the Imperial Officer to arrive. Kneeling on the floor nearby in stun cuffs sat a Rebel Sympathizer. Sabine hated Imperials but they paid well. "Where is he, time is Credits?" Sabine said to one of the two white Armored Stormtroopers standing silent guard at the door. Of course, the Stormtrooper said nothing.
"Patience Sister, Commander Garsk never arrives on time." Ketsu said to Sabine.
"Never had any. So, where are we going from here?" Sabine asked taking off her helmet and putting it on the desk. Usually she would not do that, she hated it when one of these Imperial Officers gave her unwanted attention. They would flatter her trying to seduce her in some fashion, which she had no interest in any of them. It bothered her, she was only sixteen and most of the old scum that found her attractive was at least twice her age. It was always the same, they would stare at her ass, legs and small breasts within her body suit and armor as she walked by them. They would approach her and ask if she wanted to either go back to their quarters or spend time with them. Ketsu had told her that it was because she was a rare beauty that caused those scum to want to bed her.
"I hear Lothal has some interesting bounties on it." Ketsu smirked seeing her partner shrug her shoulders only partially wanting to work for any more Imperials.
Commander Garsk entered and stared at Sabine. Causing her to roll her eyes, in frustration. "I see that you found Hindu Larz, very good." Garsk sat behind his desk and waved at the Rebel kneeling on the floor. "Where did you find him?"
"You are not paying for that, only his capture." Ketsu said as the Commander handed her Thirty Thousand Credits. "Keep going it was Fifty."
"I do not remember that, I believe the Bounty on him is only Thirty." Garsk stated as he smiled wolfishly at Ketsu then at Sabine.
Both knew what the Imperial was trying to do, he would pocket Twenty Thousand for their work. "Perhaps we should take it, then put on the network not to take any work from Commander Garsk." Sabine suggested as Garsk frowned and handed the other Twenty.
"Unless there is no social involvement that you two would like to do with me, I would suggest that you leave Shili." Garsk ordered as he glared at the two Bounty Hunters. "Take Hindu Larz down to interrogation, I believe that there are some answers I want from him."
Sabine tried not to look at the human Rebel as he was manhandled up and dragged from the room. She felt somewhat dismayed at the expression on his face; fear and hopelessness. Putting her helmet back on she stood and left, with Ketsu following her. "I hate that, Larz is just an innocent person that wants freedom." She said as she left the Complex, seeing Togruta's walking about their Home-world with their Montrelled heads lowered.
"Freedom is overrated. Think about it Sabine, if we let emotion and feelings come into play we won't make any Credits. Rebels are the highest Bounties out here, even the Black Sun is paying premium prices for Rebels. More than the Empire by the way." Ketsu wanted to join the Black Sun someday, but Sabine did not. She did not like the Falleaon and since the Black Sun was ruled by a Falleaon; she had no intention of joining it. "So, shall we head for Lothal?"
"Why not?" Walking through the outer Imperial Complex Sabine saw a Togruta youth begging on a street corner. Taking a Credit from her pouch she tossed it to the young Togruta girl and smiled at her. Especially when Ketsu did the same. "You are such a softy."
"You are one to talk. Let's go, I called Squeaky he is getting the Shadow Runner prepped for our departure." Ketsu said indicating their Astromech Droid.
That night Sabine had a dream, unlike any dream she had before. She felt wonderful in the dream as she slept. She stood before a young man that she had never seen before and as he put his arms around her and she felt whole. She marveled as the dream kissed her, relishing in the experience. To her dismay before she could identify the man she awoke. The feelings remained as she rolled over in her small bed and with regret the young man was not there. Closing her eyes, she hoped to have the dream again.
Out on the Plains of Lothal, Ezra parried a lunge by Kanan. They had been dueling for hours, and after the defeat of the Grand Inquisitor and the appearance of two more. Kanan thought it essential that Ezra become better with being able to fight better with his Lightsaber. Hera and Zeb watched them closely as the two Jedi fought across the uneven ground.
"They are both getting better." Zeb the Lasat stated as he watched them parry and thrust the Lightsabers.
"Yes, it is important that they do get better." Hera said exhaling as Kanan almost lost his arm in one of the defensive moves. She knew that they both were in total control as they fought. Then like most of their bouts it was a draw.
"Alright, that is enough for today. Let us Meditate and Relax a little." Kanan said as he deactivated his Lightsaber and knelt, followed by Ezra.
Ezra touched the Force and allowed his perceptions to flow. Kanan had warned him several times that visions should not be taken literally. This one was different from any that he had experienced before. Concentrating on the flashes, he saw himself facing a Mandalorian. A Female Mandalorian, she had him dead to rights. Training her blaster down upon him as he looked up at her. Then oddly she lowered her blaster and pulled her helmet off, what he saw shocked him. She was beautiful. Her golden eyes stared at him. Then the vision disappeared and he heard Yoda's voice in his mind. "Future she is, to you she will be." Ezra's eyes flew open and he saw Kanan staring at him with concern.
"Ezra! Can you hear me?" Kanan yelled at him as he blinked. Zeb and Hera were standing behind Kanan their expressions radiated concern.
"Yes, what is wrong?" Ezra asked as he reached down to rub his now tingling legs.
"You have been Meditating for six hours, I could not bring you out of it." Kanan informed him as he reached down to help his Pattawan stand.
"Six hours, no way. Maybe twenty minutes or so." Ezra stated standing and feeling the circulation return to his legs.
"No six hours, what did you experience?" Kanan asked as he watched Ezra carefully.
"I had a vision, but unlike any I have ever had. I heard Master Yoda again." Ezra replied, then told Kanan what he had seen and heard.
"This might not be a normal vision, it might be something else. Especially if Master Yoda spoke to you." Kanan exhaled and led Ezra inside, they needed to discuss the vision more completely.
"In the meantime, we have our orders. Commander Sato has finally found the supply depot he wants us to raid." Hera told them as she and Zeb entered the Ghost as well. While still searching for a base, Lothal was still a good staging area for the Ghost and as soon as the raid was completed and the supplies were transferred to a ship. They would return and land somewhere else to await their next assignment.
Landing at the Capital City on Lothal, Sabine shook her head. The Capital more looked like a small inadequate town. The biggest building was the Imperial domed Complex. Following Ketsu inside she tried not to look disgusted at the presence of so many Imperials. She hated Imperial Officers with a passion. She hated more working for them, but the Credits were always good. Entering the Office, she saw Ketsu pause slightly then go in.
"Good you are here, I am Agent Alexsandr Kallus and from what I have heard you two are the best Bounty Hunters in the Outer Rim." The man smiled at Ketsu who faltered slightly. Sabine shook her head as her friend sat and smiled at the Imperial.
"Great." Sabine thought. "Ketsu is at it again." Sabine listened to the Imperial lout flatter and praise them, then after a while handed Four Holo Images to them.
"We want them alive if possible, well we want these two alive. The others are at your discretion." Kallus continued to look at Ketsu who gave him her best come hither looks.
'We will try to bring them all in alive, but it never is a guarantee." Sabine stated ignoring the appraised look that Kallus gave her. Taking the special passes that authorized them to go all over Lothal in their hunt for the Rebels. Standing Sabine almost had to drag her friend out of Kallus's office. Out in the corridor Ketsu stopped her.
"What is with you, he was attractive. Perhaps if you indulged occasionally you might like it." Ketsu frowned as she realized what she had said. "I am sorry Sabine, you know my mouth works before my brain kicks in."
"It is ok, I know that you did not mean to say that." Sabine stared angrily at the passing Imperials then put her helmet back on. She did not like to think about what had happened to her two years ago at the Imperial Academy. Before she had decided to quit and leave, an instructor had decided that he desired Sabine and that desire turned to him forcing himself on her. The memory soured in Sabine's mind as the perverted Officer raped her and took her virginity. Now the very thought of even being around any Imperial Officer sent her into revulsion. "Let's go to the Hotel and go over who we are after." Sabine said listlessly as she walked on.
In the Hotel Room, Sabine scowled at the Holo-Images and the information that the Imperial Security Branch had accumulated on the Rebels. The ISB generally had extensive information about any threat. It was their trademark, not so with these Rebels. They barely had any names on them. As she looked over the Images, A Female Twil'ek about Twenty-Five Ryloth years old, A Lasat underdetermined Lason years old, Human Man about Twenty-Five human years old and a younger man about Sabine's age. She stared at the last image, feeling a familiarity about him. She turned her head slightly and studied the image, he had clear blue eyes and she felt an attraction to him.
"Oh, he is cute." Ketsu said as she peered over Sabine's shoulder. "Looks a little young and innocent to be a Rebel that the Empire wants."
"I did not notice." Sabine said lying to her friend. She knew that Ketsu could tell when she lied.
"Sure, you didn't. I know you sister. You like him. Maybe before we turn him over to the Empire you can talk to him or even you know have some fun. It might be sort of a last request before the Empire shoots him." Ketsu said seeing Sabine frown at the last statement.
Sabine did not know why the thought of the Empire executing a Rebel terrorist would upset her, but it did. Most of those that they turned over to the Empire were interrogated then executed within a few days of their capture. It bothered Sabine somewhat, not as much as the thought of the Empire doing it to the young man that she looked at now. For some reason he reminded Sabine of her brother Triston. Along with something else, almost like she knew who he was, that she had seen him before. Shaking her head, she looked at the amount the Imperials had on the Two Humans, the sum was outrageous and she wanted to know why. "Did you see the amount the Imperials have on him, it is the highest I have ever seen." Sabine asked Ketsu who smirked.
"Yeah you could almost buy a Corvette Cruiser for that amount. With the other Human you could." Ketsu commented already feeling those Credits in her pouch. Then her thoughts strayed to Kallus. Wondering if she had time to see him before they started hunting. Seeing Sabine's expression, she touched Sabine's arm. "What is it?"
"I do not know, I am confused and conflicted. There is something about him that makes me wonder if we should accept this contract." Sabine replied still looking at the image, wondering what he was like.
"Well I am going to see if that handsome ISB Agent wants to take me to dinner. You let me know when you come to a decision?" Walking to the door Ketsu turned. "Do not wait up." Leaving Sabine to ponder about what to do.
Laying in one of the two beds, with her eyes closed. Sabine started to drift off to sleep. Then with a start she sat up. The young man on the imager was the same young man in her dream. She knew it was, that was why he was so familiar to her. Picking up the imager she stared at it again. Running her fingers across it she felt a stirring in her chest. "How can this be?" She said out loud as she exhaled. Without warning she heard a voice echo in the room. "Future he is, to you he will be". Jumping out of bed she searched for the source of the gravelly voice, with her blaster in her hand. Finding nothing she frowned, "What the hell was that?" she thought. "And what does it mean?"
Throughout the mission, Ezra could not keep his mind off the Mandalorian Girl or Woman. He did not understand what Master Yoda had meant. Was the Mandalorian going to kill him, or was it something else. Like Kanan had told him; visions were difficult to interpret. Sometimes they had a disturbing meaning. But this one was different, Ezra knew it was different. Master Yoda had spoken to him in this vision.
"Are you alright, Ezra?" Hera asked from the pilot controls as she guided the Ghost into position to take the cargo from the Imperial ship. Four A-Wings blew apart the TIE Fighter escort as their contact on the Imperial ship transferred the precious Cargo to the Ghost. Once out of range the Imperial Pilot who was secretly a Rebel would report that he had lost the Cargo and his Escorts had been destroyed. Allowing him to continue as an Imperial Pilot and Cargo Hauler.
"Everything is fine, the vision is just confusing me." Ezra stated as he stood and went to his quarters. Wanting to concentrate more on the vision and try to figure out its meaning. As he passed Kanan the older Jedi smiled and let the younger go to be alone in his thoughts.
Sitting down in the Co-pilot seat, Kanan looked over at Hera. "Give him time, the vision is something I never have heard of. Especially since Master Yoda spoke to him while not in the temple. That makes it something that is extremely special."
"But what does it mean? The words that your Master Yoda had said. "Future she is, to you she will be." Is it something important to Ezra or the rest of us?" Hera asked as she disconnected from the Cargo Ship and signaled Phoenix Squadron to depart and return to the Fleet. The Ghost would then follow so they could transfer the Cargo.
"It is a mystery. Even to me. I guess we will find out once it occurs." Kanan replied as he watched a Hera rolled her eyes and her Lekku quivered with frustration. Curling and uncurling. As the Ghost shot into Hyperspace.
"You know I hate it when you get all mystical on me." Hera smiled then reached out grabbing his tunic shirt and pulling him closer. Touching her lips onto his, in a lingering kiss. He reached up and caressed her Lekku and she shuddered as his touch sent pleasure throughout her body. "Hmm, that feels good." She muttered as she returned to piloting the Ghost. "To be continued, tonight my quarters." Hera stated seeing Kanan smile knowing what that meant.
"Just be a little quieter tonight. Last time you were a little loud." Kanan commented watching as Hera shrugged her shoulders.
"Not my fault, you were the one that got me aroused so much." Hera returned to normal space and soon docked with one of the Corvettes. Transferring the Cargo of Power Converters and Cells to the Rebel Cruiser. Once completed Hera set course back to Lothal, deciding this time to hide the Ghost near Ezra's Tower near Jhothal. All four of them would at least could touch base wirh Old Jho again.
Chopper wheeled in grumbling about one thing or another and Hera just ignored the cranky Droid as they entered Hyperspace.
In his quarters, Ezra stared at one of the walls thinking. The vision disturbed him, but it also excited him. There was something about the Mandalorian Girl that made his heart beat harder, for one she was beautiful. If she was real, Kanan had warned him that it might be a figment or a creation from the vision. But he knew she was real and as Yoda had told him, she was part of his future.