Within the Borders: Mandalore
Knownest: The Dilemma
Returning two weeks later to the Fortress home of the Wren Clan, Sabine held Ezra's hand affectionately. The young couple without success tried to pay attention on their flight back from their honeymoon. But both were easily distracted looking at each other. Sabine had some regrets that they could not stay longer at the cottage, to her the two weeks was no where near long enough. She wanted to spend at least another two weeks alone with her husband. "I am so tempted to turn around and go back to the Cottage." She admitted to Ezra hearing him give a short chuckle.
"You promised your mother that we would come back after two weeks." Ezra reminded her as she paused in midair making him do so as well.
"I did not think she would call after two weeks, whatever she called us for must be important." Sabine rotated around Ezra and she knew that he was not trained enough with the Jet pack to do anything but fly and maybe hover. She then glanced down to a natural heated spring forming a pool of water. Steam floated upwards towards them. Smirking, she looked back at Ezra. He could not see her expression and she could not see his. Not with their helmets on. "Maybe we should stop and take a break, the heated water down there is something to experience."
"We have only been flying for an hour, it is another three to the Fortress." Ezra told her as he pointed.
"Come on Ezra, we can take our clothes off and maybe have a little fun." Sabine coaxed him as she flew closer and put her arms around him. Still spinning him around. "We told my Mother that we are on our way, so some little stopovers won't delay us too much." Pulling back and taking his hand again, she started to descend. Making him drop down to the bank of the steaming hot pool. Landing she immediately started to take her armor off. Placing her Helmet down and stacking her armor, then folded her body suit and finally her panties and bra. Glancing over to see Ezra watching her as he also removed his armor and clothes. She liked it that he glared at her naked body. Especially since they had only been officially married for two weeks. Slipping into the hot water she leaned back and waited for him to enter. At first he hesitated, the water was extremely hot. When he slipped in he sputtered and then laid back and relaxed in the heated water, across from her. Moving over to him, she leaned in and kissed him. Straddling him as she put her arms around his neck. Leaning further so she could whisper into his ear. "We did not stop to just float in the water." Returning to look down on him, she could feel his arousal. In moments she was making love to him. An hour later she was standing on the shore wiping the excess water off her skin. He had already dressed and was beaming at her.
"That was interesting, how many more breaks and stopovers are we going to do before we get back to the Fortress?" He asked smiling at her as she picked up her Helmet.
"I know of two other places that we can stop and take a break." Sabine commented. They had flown the whole way to the Cottage without stopping once. The trip back she had decided that they needed to take a few moments to relax and rest from the trip. Smiling mischievously she took his hand and ignited her Jet Pack.
Seven hours later; Sabine and Ezra landed at the Wren Family Fortress. Both were tired from the long but short trip. Seeing her brother she waved at him, then took off her Helmet. Glancing over to see Ezra had his off as well. Triston walked up and shook his head.
"Took you two long enough to get back, Mother has been pacing the floors waiting for you. Better hurry she is getting a little frustrated." Triston stated, then turned and led the couple inside.
Walking hand in hand, with interlaced fingers. Sabine and Ezra stepped into the Grand Hall, seeing Ursa and Alrich seated on the Throne. "I am sorry I asked you to return early, but there is something that Duchess Bo-Katan has requested that I believe that is very important."
"What does she want?" Sabine asked feeling the initial concern that if Bo-Katan had contacted the Countess of the Wren Clan then it had to be important.
"She needs someone to investigate a kidnapping, without drawing attention. No one besides us will know and she does not want anyone else to know." Ursa said as she stepped down from the raised platform.
"So she wants me to investigate this kidnapping." Sabine said as she exhaled. Then saw her mother shaking her head.
"No, she has asked that Ezra conduct the investigation. She believes only Ezra can find and save him." Ursa informed Sabine and Ezra.
"Who is it, that Bo-Katan does not want to use the Official Investigators to locate the victim?" Ezra asked wondering why the Duchess and Ruler of Mandalore would not use all the resources that she had available to her.
"Fenn Rau and she does not want anyone to know her connection to him. So she has asked that Ezra investigate and save him." Ursa said, exhaling and seeing Sabine stiffen slightly.
"If I am going to risk my husband I want to know why she does not want anyone to know?" Sabine asked feeling a little upset that she had just got her Ezra back and now he might be taken away from her for an undetermined amount of time.
"I will answer that." Bo-katan said as she stepped from the corridor. Her red rimmed eyes raw from crying as she looked at Sabine, then at Ezra. "We are secretly married, like you. I need Ezra to find my Husband and bring him home. I would not ask but I am desperate."
Sabine knew why Bo-Katan and Fenn Rau were secretly married, Bo-Katan was the Duchess and Ruler of Mandalore. She was not supposed to be married to a commoner, in truth she was not supposed to be married at all. Not without the approval of the Sub-Council. So, Bo-Katan could not send official investigators to search for Fenn Rau or even be concerned that he had been kidnapped. Only his Family or the Protectors should be concerned.
"I beg you Sabine, please allow Ezra to investigate and find Fenn. Like I said I am desperate and I believe only Ezra can find him." Bo-Katan said sadly, tears once again coming to her eyes.
"Give us a moment to discuss it." Ezra said as he led Sabine over to one side. He of course was ready and willing to go, but he needed permission from Sabine. Otherwise he might be in some serious trouble and he had seen Sabine angry and he was not going to be a target of that anger.
"You need to go, beloved. I have been just as desperate to find you, So you need to help her. But I want your word that you will come back no matter what and that once you return you will never leave me again." Sabine said clutching his hands tightly.
"I swear it." Ezra replied taking one of her hands to his mouth and kissed it.
The small kiss on her fingers sent a thrill through her and she immediately wanted more than just small kiss on the fingers. Turning towards Bo-Katan she nodded. "Ezra has my permission to go, but I want one more night with him. So he will be ready to go with you tomorrow morning."
"Thank you Sabine." Bo-Katan said relieved. Giving a small smile then becoming sullen again.
"You will not be going alone, Triston will you travel with him?" Ursa asked as she looked over at Triston who suddenly smiled broadly. He was feeling ousted and somewhat dismayed about lounging around the Family Fortress for the last couple of years. Sabine had gone about on adventures leaving him home. Now he was ready to also go on an adventure.
"Yes, I will go as well. If that is alright with you Brother?" Triston asked Ezra.
"Why not, but I will be traveling incognito. With my Lightsaber hidden." Ezra told Triston and those around him seeing the relief in Sabine's eyes.
"I will get you both Identicards that states that you two are Mandalorain Official Investigators. What name should I use for Ezra, I do not think it would be wise to put his real name on it?" Bo-Katan asked.
"Zare Eando Wren." Ursa said as she smiled. She had spent several hours in the archives and records to find an appropriate name for Ezra to use. She had found one, Eando Fallow was not a Mandalorian, but he became one when he married Count Balak Wren's Daughters two hundred years ago. Thus his name changed to Eando Fallow Wren. Ursa then with some little thought switched the letters around for his first name to make Zare and used Eando's first name as Ezra's last, before he became a member of the Wren Clan by marriage.
"I like it. What do you think my beautiful and lovely wife?" Ezra now Zare asked Sabine.
"I already said you can go, but I like the flattery." Sabine elbowed him the ribs playfully. "I guess the new name will work. I wish I could go as well, if I did though it would compromise your new identity." Leading Ezra away. "Now if you all will excuse us, we are going to bed early." Dragging him down the corridor towards their room.
In the early morning, Sabine sat up on the bed naked watching her Husband Ezra dress first in a Blaster resistant Body Suit and then pulling on the Armor that Ursa had given to him. Sabine grimaced, she had not had the time to repaint his armor yet. So the bland colors and schemes of his armor showed that he was a Wren Clan Member but nothing else. She smiled as he yawned deeply, stretching out tired muscles.
"I should have slept more, but someone kept me up to late this morning." Ezra complained as he stifled another yawn.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, you got to sleep a whole three hours." Sabine countered. "Also my dear Husband it is a good chance I might not see you again for at least a week or two. I was going to get as much sex as I can from you before you ran off adventuring without me."
Kneeling down he took her hand and held it. "I will be back as soon as I can, I promise. You know I rather stay here, but Bo-Katan and Fenn Rau are our friends and if she thinks I can find him, then I have to try." Ezra leaned forward and kissed her, she immediately put her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with as much passion as she could muster.
Parting, she was breathing hard and felt the desire to grab him and pull him back into bed for another round. "Go and hurry back." She stammered, feeling the initial tears come to her eyes.
"I will, I love you." Ezra squeezed her hand, releasing her hand and picked up his Helmet. As he approached the door.
"I love you too." She said, then before she was actually ready he departed. She sat on the bed and felt the tears run down her cheeks. Wishing that he did not have to go and wanting him back now.
Tantooine: Mos Eisley Space Port
"Get him inside." A Dark Green Rodian said to his comrades, three Gamerorians and Two Humans. "He is worth a fortune."
The Gamerorians snorted and dragged the bound Fenn Rau into the Warehouse of Vurgo the Hutt. Dropping him on the floor before the huge Gray Slug. "Ah, Good. Good. With him as our guest we can ransom him for a small fortune, stand him up." Vurgo said as one of his Human Guards hoisted the bound Rau up to his feet. "Remove the gag."
The Human pulled off the Gag and Rau spit on the floor, working his mouth so that he could speak. "This was a mistake, you slug! I am not worth anything, to anyone." Rau protested as Vurgo started to laugh.
"Oh but you are, do you think I am stupid. I have spies everywhere and one of them told me that you are worth a great deal to the current ruler of Mandalore." Vurgo stated as he rumbled with more laughter.
Rau frowned, then thought. There was only one other that knew that he and Bo-Katan were married. Keff Randar, one of his Protectors that Rau believed was the closest thing to him as a brother. No other knew but Keff. Then worry came to him, Bo-Katan would not know or suspect that Keff was a traitor and spy. Swallowing he glared back at Vurgo. "What is it you want?"
Smiling evilly, Vurgo started to rumble with laughter. "I want it all, all of Mandalore to kneel before me. But I am reasonable, if Bo-Katan gives me the Darksaber then I will give you back to her."
"Why would you want the Darksaber?" Rau asked, none but a Mandalorian could use it as a symbol for Leadership of Mandalore. "You cannot use it to rule Mandalore."
"I know that, Rau. I have someone that is willing to pay a great amount of Credits for the Darksaber and I will have it." Vurgo grabbed a nearby goblet and drank greedily from it. "A lot of Credits, a million Credits." Then the giant slug drooled as he could almost see the piles of Currency in front of him.
On route to the Capital of Mandalore:
Ezra flew the U-Wing that Bo-Katan had provided to him and Triston. The official name of the Large Fighter transport was the "Warbird". As the ship soared towards the Capital, Ezra did not say much. He was concentrating on how he was going to Investigate the Kidnapping. He had no plans and really did not know how to Investigate. Those lessons never came up when he was training to be a Jedi. He imagined that Thrawn would know, but he doubted at that moment Thrawn would help Ezra. Not with Thrawn trying to rebuild and attack the New Republic, so there was no point in contacting the Grand Admiral and asking him. Landing the Warbird, Ezra grimaced. "I have no idea what I am doing." He admitted to Triston as his brother-in-law stared at him.
"I thought Jedi did this type of stuff all the time." Triston said as he unbuckled his restraints.
"No, not that I know of." Spinning around on the Pilot Seat, Ezra leaned forward and did not rise. "This is just not anything that I prepared for, I do not even know where to start. Perhaps it would be best if I just tell Bo-Katan that she needs to find someone else and I go back to Knownest and be with my Wife."
"You cannot give up, what would the other Jedi do? I mean when they conduct an Investigation." Triston asked and Ezra shrugged his shoulders.
"Connect to the Force and let it guide them. Well I can try that at least, maybe it will give me some insight." Standing, Ezra went to the Troop Deployment section of the Ship. Kneeling on the floor, he closed his eyes and let the Force Flow into him. At first he did not see or feel anything. Then a question came to him, whoever kidnapped Rau did so for a reason. What was that reason? Fenn Rau was not considered Politically or Financially connected. He was not part of a influential Clan or had no real value. So who would take him? Someone that knew his value. Then who would know, Ezra was sure that Bo-Katan and Fenn Rau would not announce to everyone that they were secretly Married. That is the key, the solution. Find the those that knew Rau's importance that would give the start of who had taken Rau. Opening his eyes he saw Triston staring at him. "What is wrong?"
"You have been kneeling like that for almost three hours, I was concerned." Triston informed Ezra. "Are you alright?"
"Yes I am fine, and I know the path we need to take." Ezra stood and led Triston towards the Ruling Chambers of Bo-Katan, he had questions to ask her and hopefully the answers would guide to them to Fenn Rau.
The Fortress of the Wren Clan:
Sabine stood at the window and watched the U-Wing rise and start to depart. Fate had once again taken Ezra away from her, even though it was only for a couple of weeks this time. It still felt the same. After this she was going to make him keep to his promise to never leave her again. All of her family and the closest friends had all agreed that they would keep his return a secret. She watched the U-Wing crest the trees and was gone. Continuing to look she closed the curtain and went back to bed. She did not feel like getting dressed or leaving the room yet. Picking up his pillow from his side of the bed she hugged it to her and inhaled. She could still smell him on it, so she squeezed it tightly. The tears began to run down her face onto the pillow, she wanted him to come back now and not later. A small knock on the door resounded through the room. "In a minute." She said as she wiped the tears off her face and covered herself with a sheet. "Come on in." The door opened and Ursa her mother stood in the door way.
"Sabine, it is two hours since the sun rose and you are still in bed." Ursa said with some concern. "You need to get dressed and join us in the Main Hall."
"I will in a little while, I just want to be alone for now." Sabine replied, not moving to get off the bed.
"He will come back, he promised remember. Now come on, you are not going to lay around and wait for him to return. Being active will make the time go faster then just laying around waiting." Ursa stepped in and shook her head, silently scolding her. "Now come, you must begin to learn what it means to be the Leader of our Clan. Someday you are going to replace me and I believe it is the perfect time that you learn what it means to be the Countess of the Wren Clan."
"Fine, do I bring my Blasters?" Sabine asked, but as she grabbed her robe she felt sudden nausea come over her. Rushing into the Refresher she began to vomit into the waste disposal unit. Her mother was at the door with the expression of serious concern on her face. After a few moments Sabine stood and brushed her teeth and gargled some mint flavored mouth wash. "Yuck."
"Instead I think we need to go to the Med-Center." Ursa stated looking slightly pleased.
"No, it must have been something I ate that did not agree with me." Sabine said stepping out to put on her body suit and armor.
Smirking Ursa shook her head. "You are going to the Med-Center, Sabine." She ordered taking Sabine's arm and led her to the Med-Center. Ursa continued to smile all the way, hoping slightly that she was right about why Sabine had just vomited.
