Author Note: Mostly just for fun, i'll prolly get a lot of things wrong. Just uploading this chapter for now, Seeing if anyones interested and whatever. This will be set after Ezra joins the ghost, but before they really meet the Grand Inquisitor.
"That's some fancy colored Mandalorian tech" Sabine Wren dropped her can of orange spray paint in surprise when a voice came from behind her. "I saw a symbol like that earlier this morning, you I'm guessing?" The voice continued when she turned around. She observed the speaker for a moment before responding. It was a human male, dark hair and bright green eyes, wearing dark clothes.
"Lothal's local decorator, at your service" she bowed and picked up her paint can.
"I must apologize, I didn't mean to spook you. Just wanted to say your arts great. A nice change from the dust and Empire colors" he smiled.
Sabine smiled back. "Thanks. Haven't seen you around, visiting?" She turned and finished her painting before hopping down from her platform.
"For now. I'll see you around" the two started to part ways. "Names Talon" he shouted when he got on his speeder. He thought he heard her respond but was unable to hear what she said.
Talon was unsure exactly when he would be leaving this dirt ball of a planet, though it probably wasnt really a dirt ball. There were some grassy areas he'd been through, and he had seen quite a bit of water on the planet when he came into orbit, but his current area just looked dry to him for some reason. He disliked the outer rim quite a bit, though his master seemed to enjoy it. Maybe it reminded him of his home planet or something, Talon didn't know. It was a subject his master never seemed eager to talk about, and Talon just never asked. He would be happy once finally found his master and was able to continue training away from the Empire and this planet.
The best thing about having your own ship is not having to find an inn to hole up in on unfamiliar planets. Talon parked his speeder just inside his ship and closed the hatch, thinking about the Mandalorian and the few pieces of her art he had seen. He only thought for a few moments before ruffling his hair and making his way to the only bedroom in the craft. The bed mattress was very flat, more like a mat laid on metal then your typical bed, but it worked.
Talon kicked off his boots and sat cross legged on his bed. Today was his first full day here on Lothal, and he had yet to meditate. He hoped meditation would bring him closer to the force and closer to finding his master. Talon didn't understand why his teacher left him and went on a quest alone, he wasn't a child with no skill anymore. Talon sighed and closed his eyes, trying to feel for his master through the force. He tried to surround himself with the force and thoughts of his master. His confusion and anger at why he had been left swelling up. But he could feel no pull on the force, save for maybe a couple force wielders on Lothal, but they felt different than his master. After a while more of trying, Talon grew frustrated and gave up, throwing himself back to lay in bed. Maybe the other force traces he sensed could help. At least they could show him around the planet, or say if they'd seen his master. But then again they could be from the Empire and if the Sith Lord's servants found him or his teacher... Talon shuddered at the thought as he closed his eyes.
Talon had spent a couple of days on Lothal before running into the artist again. It was on accident, Talon was walking through a market when the Storm Troopers all started making a commotion and Talon decided to follow, thinking maybe they had found his master. He ducked behind a crate when he got to the main scene, and was shocked to see the artist and some kind of hairless Wookie thing, he wasn't sure the species.
"Yes Agent Kallus" he heard one of the Troopers say. "The Mandalorian and the Lasat" the trooper paused again. "Yes sir, we'll bring them to headquarters right away sir" The artist and the Wookie thing were obviously in trouble, and despite all his teachings, Talon hopped up and flipped over the crate, holding his saber in his hand. He felt so powerful with the red blades spinning in his grip.
Sabine and Zeb watched in shock as the dark clothed figure chopped through a couple of the Storm Troopers that were standing between them. He would raise his arm and slice without mercy, occasionally throwing a kick or blocking blaster shots. Sabine wondered if this was a Jedi like Kanan, only with a red saber. The figure was behind the two of them cutting their cuffs, setting them free. "Let's go" he said. Sabine recognized voice and observed his features once more, remembering the pale man from the other day. 'Had he said his name was Talon?'she couldn't remember for sure. Zeb hijacked an imperial speeder and Sabine hopped on, shooting a blaster she lifted off one of the dead Troopers. Red blades flew through the air as Talon took care of the last couple bucket heads, and then he as well, jumped on the speeder before Zeb took off. "What did you do that pissed the Empire off?" Talon asked after re-holstering his saber.
"They uh apparently don't like being stolen from. Talon, right?" Sabine responded. He nodded and she continued "Names Sabine, that's Zeb"
Talons green eyes looked at the driving humanoid. "I mean no offense, but what exactly are you Zeb? A Wookie?"
Sabine and Zeb both laughed at his question. "I'm a Lasat mate. Much different than a Wookie" Zeb said in a gruff voice. "Where are we dropping you at?"
"Wherever really. Preferably a bit away from that scene" Talon laughed nervously. He tried to remember if he had left anyone alive that could expose him to the Sith.
"Are you a Jedi?" Sabine asked after they had been driving a few minutes.
Talon thought for a moment on how to answer. "I am attuned to the force yes" he paused. "However I don't believe there are any, or very many, Jedi left"
Sabine was quiet for a minute, her golden eyes lost in thought. It was Zeb who spoke first though. "Maybe you'll meet a Jedi someday, you never know" Talon doubted the purple furred creature. The Empire had eliminated the Jedi, according to his master. And any Jedi that remained were being hunted down, like him and his master.
"Maybe" Talon responded, getting lost in his own thoughts. Shortly afterwards the speeder stopped, and Talon saluted the two rebels a goodbye, running off into the crowded market place.
"Do you think we should mention him to Kanan?" Zeb asked Sabine add they watched him disappear.
"Definitely. His saber was red, did you notice?" She asked in return, as she and Zeb took their own path back to the ghost.
Zeb had noticed, but didn't think anything of it. "Probably the only color he could find. I don't know how that stuff works. Ask Kanan"
"Are you sure it was a red saber?" Kanan asked later, when they filled him and Hera in on their failed mission. "And he helped you?" Sabine and Zeb both nodded in agreement. Kanan tried to work out his confusion in his head. Master Billaba had told him stories about people who practiced the dark side, mostly to scare him, he guessed. Stories about their red blades and the darkness consuming them until they were no longer themselves. "Sure I'll meet him"
"You will?" Sabine looked at Hera. "Maybe he can help us out and stuff on missions. He didn't seem too fond of the empire"
"Maybe. Only if Kanan says its okay" the Twi'Lek replied.
Kanan sighed. "But Ezra stays here. This guy might be dangerous."
Sabine arched an eyebrow. "If he was gonna hurt us I think he would have already. He took out like... I don't know a handful of bucket heads while we were cuffed" Kanan looked unconvinced but told her to set up a meeting. Someplace public, but not too public.
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They ended up meeting in an alley way, a spot where no one would hear anything but an easy escape for Kanan if he needed it. "So. Attuned to the force?" Kanan was the first one to speak.
"Yup" Talon responded. "You to?"
"Yup" Kanan replied just as short. "Red saber?"
Talon nodded. "You?"
"Blue. Sith?" Kanan asked.
Talon took a moment to think. "In a way"
"Care to elaborate?"
"My master taught me the ways of a Sith" Talon paused when Kanan tensed up more, his hand resting on his blaster. "He disliked the Jedi quite a bit, though he dislikes the empire more now. Or well. The "Sith Pretender" who leads it. Something like that" Talon gave a half smile
"Your master?" Kanan remained tense. "What's your story kid? How old are you even?"
Talon wasn't sure how much truth to tell. "My master found me on Mandalor, I don't know maybe fifteen years ago? I'm not sure... he was a Zabrak. Red, black markings, yellow eyes" so far this description didn't match anyone Kanan could remember. "He taught me everything I know about the force. Taught me to harness my emotions and use them to bend the force to my will." Talon gave a small smirk at Kanan's obvious disdain for that statement. "But he's missing now. For a couple years. I can't sense him... I don't even know where he went... Surely a Jedi such as yourself must know the sting of losing a master?" That was a soft spot for Kanan, and Talon could tell, so he tried to change the subject. "Sabine said maybe I could help you guys."
"Maybe" Kanan said quickly. "Why would you want to help us anyway if you're Sith?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure. Sabine seems pretty great, maybe I'm being selfish and just want to be around her. Maybe I want to help destroy the sith pretenders while I look for my master" Talon explained. His master wouldn't really be pleased if he were to work with a Jedi, but if the end results worked in their favor, then what the hell. "I have my own ship, it's small, but it's enough"
Kanan was quiet and pensive for so long, Talon thought the Jedi might have had a stroke. Kanan wasn't sure if he should say yes or no. Another ship and force user would be great for the cause, but did it really have to be a user of the dark side? He sighed. "We'll need rules."
"Of course" Talon agreed.
"No Sith talk while you're with this crew. I won't have my apprentice learning the dark side. If there's any whiff of trouble, you're gone. Got it?" Kanan laid out.
"Is that it?" Talon cocked a grin.
"Unless the boss has anything to add" Kanan replied. "Let's grab your ship, we'll park it in the same area as the Ghost" he paused. "But how do I know you're not a spy from the Empire?"
"You don't" Talon leaned against a wall. "You'll just have to trust me" He looked Kanan in the eye. "I have no quarrel with you. History says I should, but I really don't care. You'll have to trust me, like I'll have to trust in you. Or better, do what I've heard you Jedi do, trust in the force."
Kanan again went into uneasy silence. This was an odd situation. A user of the dark side wanting to help the rebellion. "What happens when the Empire falls?"
"Hmm… Well I guess we part, having shared an experience. Though if we were to find my master, He would definitely want something in return. I however am just here to carry out what could very well be my masters last wish"
The Jedi was reluctant to accept his offer, but against his teachings, he nodded. It was because of the Sith that his master had perished so early. It was because of the Sith the galaxy had no peace. But this kid did claim he wasn't with the Sith that resided in the Empire, so Kanan decided to take a leap of faith. He would trust in the force. "Fine, where's your ship?"
"Carnage is parked near the outskirts" Talon replied, starting to walk in the direction. "You know, I never thought I'd meet a Jedi, I thought the Empire stamped them all out"
"Yea well we thought the Sith had been destroyed centuries ago, look where we are now" Kanan replied. The air was filled with awkward silence and a hint of tension as they journeyed to Talons ship, Carnage, and then the Ghost.