'Urgh. You really don't have to do that, you know!'

'You have landed on this planet without authorisation. I really think I do.'

'Bloody Mandalorians. Ezra. I told you this was a mistake. Owww!'

'Well what do you expect, show some manners, Darys, and maybe you won't get a rifle butt in your face next time.'

'You should listen to your son, he knows what he's talking about.'

'He's not my son. He's my brother.'

'He still knows what he is talking about. So stay silent.'

...

'I was hoping we might be able to see the Countess?'

'What do you want with the Countess, Jedi scum?'

'I want to pay my respects. I'm friends with her daughter.'

'I see. Very well. You will be escorted under guard to the Countess's fortress. We will see what he has to say on the matter.'

'Well, hopefully she's repaired the window in her throne room since last time I was here.'

'It has been repaired since the last time Jedi scum visited us.'

They were frogmarched in single file through the snow for what felt like hours. Occasionally their five guards spoke to each other, or to Ezra, but Darys kept silent, perhaps suspecting that he would be hit if he opened his mouth. It was an unusual situation for Darys. The feeling that it was Ezra, not him, who was in control. Ezra, not him, who was the key to getting what they wanted. In short, Darys was as proud of Ezra as he ever had been.

They marched for hours. Ezra wished they had landed closer, but their fighter escort had forced them down far away from the fortress of the Wrens. The long walk through the snow was tiring. Hmm. He needed to do more exercise. Clearly being cooped up on the Jedthu was no good for strength, even if the regular sparring between Darys and Ezra was becoming much easier. No resistance though. And the Force did most of the work in those jumps. Ezra looked across at Darys. He didn't seem tired at all. How was that possible? Hang on. The Force did most of the work when they were sparring, why couldn't it here. Urggh. No wonder Darys looked like hew as taking a walk in the park. He'd probably been using the Force all along.

Eventually the guards halted.

'You two, halt. We're stopping here for the night. We're in winter now, and night comes quickly. Here, take a shovel each. We need to dig in for the night. The snow will make a good shelter if we let it. First we need to go down, then up a bit and along. Then a nice big chamber for our stuff and some shelves to sleep on. You can't escape. You'd freeze to death if you tried. Even with your mighty Force powers. No amount of mystic woo can save you from thermodynamics.'

You underestimate the power of the Force. Though we have no intention of escaping. Just tell us where to dig.' Darys said.

'Well, you know when to listen to sense at least. I'll radio in our position to headquarters. The Countess will be happy to know you Jedi are co-operating.'

'HQ, this is Isolde'

'Acknowledged, Isolde, we have a beta-three here. Where are you?'

'In the woods, digging in for the night.'

'Acknowledged. WE trust you Isolde, no need to send you co-ordinates until morning.'

'Over and out.'

The radio crackled.

'Shit. Shit. Bugger it all!'

'What is it, Isolde?'

'The Empire are here, Osman.'

'Damn!'

'Can we help with that?' Ezra asked.

'Not a chance. They said it's a beta-three, which means there are between 100 and 500 stormtroopers present. You can't handle all of them. Not even if all clan Wren fights alongside you.'

'Wanna bet?' Darys asked, ' 50 credits says we can wipe out this little Battalion within a day. Pretty standard Jedi work really.'

'These aren't programmed robots, Jedi.' Isolde said, spitting her disgust. 'They are men. Real men, in service to the Empire. Fanatically loyal and crack shots. What hope do you have?'

'A mighty ally, the Force is. Basically, just you watch us. Or more accurately me. Ezra will stay with you five. I presume you can lend him a blaster?'

'I do have a lightsaber Darys.'

'I know, Ezra, but I will be using it. I'll need two for what I have in mind.'

'What is that?'

'You'll see. You'll see. But afterwards, if I survive, I want you to admit I am better with a lightsabre than you.'

'Not a chance.'

Night fell and the seven warriors were below ground. Ezra tossed and turned for what seemed like hours. How could the others sleep when it was so cold? But eventually he drifted off, only to be woken after what felt like no time at all.

'Wake up sleepy, we're moving out. Isolde and Osman are ready. We have a citadel to liberate.'

They jogged through the snow for three hours until eventually the citadel was in sight. It was a magnificent structure, glass and steel standing firmly against the lake and trees.

'It would look even better if those stormtroopers weren't camped outside.' Osman chuntered.

'It would. Which is why I need you to radio in that you have captured us. Say you found us today. Request assistance to bring us to the Countess.'

'The Imps will be listening in, you know.' Osman said.

'Exactly! The jedi plans to use that to lure a group of the stormtroopers here. Split them from each other, take out a small part rather than the whole.'

'Precisely, Isolde. You have a fine tactical mind. Would you care to suggest what happens after we wipe out that patrol though?'

'They'll miss a check-in. Then the alarm will be raised. We'll have the rest of the battalion deployed to hunt us down.'

'We will. And that is when you need to leave it to me and me alone. The first wave we take down together. Then you hide. One of you needs to claim to have escaped and request that the entire Imperial force is sent to you as reinforcements. Then we have them out in the open and exposed. I'll handle the rest.'

'You sure?'

'Well, feel free to shoot a bit after I have them distracted. Are you ready to make the call?'

'I am.'

'Good. May be the Force be with us.'

Ezra was nervous. Not scared; Jedi don't show fear, but he was nervous. What was going to happen? IT had been a long time since he had faced blaster fire. In the end, a patrol of twenty stormtroopers appeared. Ezra drew his sabre a split second behind Darys and ignited it, the first bolt from an imperial blaster narrowly being deflected by the extending blade.

Between the reflected fire from the Jedi. And the fast and accurate shooting of the five Mandalorians, the patrol soon lay dead.

'Quick, move the bodies somewhere out of the way. Everyone grab a second blaster, Ezra, get two and give me your lightsaber. Now, you lot all dig in. I want you invisible. Use the bodies to hide yourselves. I am gonna assume they have a walker or two for personal transport, so make sure you are well hidden. Don't fire until you are sure the enemy are distracted.'

It took twenty minutes of frantic activity until they were well hidden.

Alright. Osman. You call in this time. Say that you have just escaped me, and that you need reinforcements to deal with an escaped Jedi. That will send them running.'

It did. Four AT-ST walkers and about two hundred storm troopers. Ezra saw Darys take a deep breath and ignite both the lightsabers. The stormtroopers started to fire and Darys leapt into the air, the tow blades deflecting bolts away from him and towards the mass of infantry who were firing at him. Suddenly Ezra realised why people spoke of the Jedi as great warriors. This was ludicrous. Darys was jumping around and spinning and the blaster bolts were going right back at those who fired them. Before long half the troopers were dead, and all four walkers were rendered useless, there legs slice through and their cabins lying flat on the ground, their guns buried deep in the soil or pointing straight up to the sky. And still Darys swung his sabers in defence, as Imperials fell around him. Then the Mandalorians opened fire. It was a massacre. Only the Mandadlorians, Ezra and Dary had survived, and Darys was grinning like a lunatic, the joy of the fight upon him.

'Wow.'

'Nice to fight alongside you, Jedi. That was impressive.'

'No more impressive than the ability of your people to trap and kill Jedi. We are hard to kill.'

'Your words are courteous, yet still untrue for that. We were hid whilst you fought.'

'Consider it as payment. We came here for fuel as well as a social call. Doing something for you is the least we can do.'

'Thank you. I will radio in to see if HQ knows of any more imperials.'

There weren't any. A fact that Ezra was rather glad about. Before long, they had come to the great fortress that was the home of the Countess Ursa Wren.

'Leave this to me, Ezra. If you have a history, I should be able to get the fairest deal out of our friends.' Darys whispered.

'I've been here before. They like me.' Ezra hissed back.

'They liked you. Last time you were here, you were with a member of the clan. And who knows how upset she might be with you for disappearing on her. You can try if I fail. But there's no guarantee of a warm welcome for either of us, Ezra.'

'I think there is.'

'Just. Don't get your hopes up. I've known simple missions like this go to complete and utter kark when I was a padawan. Just… Look, I know you can do this. I just. I am really bad at leaving my fate in someone else's hands. Even ones I trust as much as yours.'

Ezra nodded in consent and looked to take a seat outside the throne room.

The guards escorted Darys into the throne room where, presumably, the Countess was holding court. Looking around, Ezra sat on a padded seat by the window. It was almost comfortable, as if he was sitting in someone else's place. Well loved and well worn, but to suit someone else, not him.

'So, Ezra. We meet again.'

Ezra looked around, surprised to hear a voice that wasn't Darys's using his name.

'Alrich! How are you? Still painting?'

'I am. Thank you for asking. Is Sabine with you?'

'Sabine? No. I haven't seen her since. Well. I had to leave Lothal in a hurry.'

'I know. Sabs told us. I had hoped your return meant you'd found her.'

'Not yet. Do you know where she is?'

'On Lothal. Waiting for you.'

'That's where we're going! We're on our way there from Jakku.'

'Jakku? It's been a long time since I had any lessons on galactic cartography, but haven't you come the long way round? And what has taken you so long?'

'We were avoiding the Empire. And I think the hyperdrive in our ship isn't very good. That's why we are here really. We needed fuel and you are the only people near here who might be described as friendly.'

'I see.' Alrich laughed. A jolly belly laugh that seemed to lighten the very air around them. 'Well, I think we can probably find you some. It might not be very high grade.'

'I don't think we need high grade fuel. I'm pretty sure we made the first leg of our journey on fuel looted from an old Confederacy tug. And from what Darys told me, the fuel on that tug was as low quality as you can go without burning actual rocks.'

'Haha! Well my friend, if low grade is all you need, then low grade you shall have. Of course, Ursa will have to make the decision formally, but I am sure she will. You getting back to Lothal is the only thing that will bring our Sabine home. And as much as Ursa doesn't like to admit it, we both miss her.'

'So do I.'

'Yes. That was pretty obvious from the way you looked at her last time you were here. I've seen eyes like that before. I'm pretty sure I looked that way myself when I first met Ursa. I'm not sure I don't still.'

'I.I.'

'Look. If you can't calmly put out a flat denial, it might be worth looking at your feelings. And for what it's worth, for Sabine to stay away from us for years, sitting on a planet for you. Well. I wouldn't have chosen a Lothalian for my daughter, but if she has chosen you. If, mind. I don't know, if she has. Well, I would welcome them to my family with open arms.'

Ezra blushed profusely, as he tried to think of what to say. Sabine's Dad thought. But no, he was just guessing. But still.

'Thank you for the fuel.'

'Thank Ursa, not me. It's not in my gift.'

'Well, thank you anyway. It means a lot.'

'You're welcome Ezra. Now shall we see where your friend has gotten too with my beloved?'