(Sabine's POV)

It had been a month since we asked for Commander Sato's help, since Hera told us that we were on our own looking for Ezra, and I was still frustrated by it all.

Being told that the rebellion wouldn't help us certainly didn't help my anger, but it brought with it a sense of certainty that left me with a contained fury, a purpose to focus back on.

'Course Hera said it wasn't healthy to not talk about it, to bottle everything up. But it was normal for me.
It helped me focus on what I needed to do.
Helped me focus on new ways to find Ezra.

I studied the Imperial reports on my computer with a frown, finding it strange that a report on the destruction of a small cargo ship was getting flagged with so much attention.
Why was news about a small transport vessel that didn't even warrant escort ships on such a secure channel?

It certainly didn't make any sense, but...

Clicking of the keyboard could be heard as I began to isolate the reports on the ship and pulling up its cargo logs, studying them closely for anything that made it stand out for the Imperials.

This was the Empire we were talking about, so I knew what signs to look for.
They had patterns in their secrecy.

At least, they usually did.

Though if the cargo logs were anything to go by, they certainly seemed more panicked by this 'unknown ship' that had devastated their measly cargo vessel than they would normally have the right to.
There was nothing there to warrant such a response as they were having.
Rations for troops and other basics, but absolutely nothing that said 'weapon' or anything else of great importance.

I lean back in my chair, thoughtful.
Why would-?

Something popping up at the bottom of the report flagged my attention, and I quickly sat up and read it with widening eyes.

There was a holo-video attached.
According to the last couple of lines, they were saying the ship had been boarded before being destroyed.

They boarded the ship?
What the heck for?

This was definitely sending off red flags.
And there was definitely more on that ship than the logs were saying.
This had to have been one of those cargo ships that were smuggled things around in secret in order to avoid detection from the rebellion.

But what were they trying to hide?
To go through such lengths only to get ambushed by an unknown vessel in transit, and then to cause such a panic over it?
This was big.

I didn't know if it had anything to do with Ezra, but I was going to find out.

Old habits and curiosity was kicking in.

Typing away I immediately set up an automatic program to cypher through all the reports related to the incident for any key words as to what they may have been secretly transporting before clicking on the video link, eyes focused intently on the image as it showed a bland empty hallway that occasionally shook from what I presumed was the ship being hit by the other vessels attacks.

But I was more concerned about the black cloaked figure that was suddenly shown entering said hallway.

The way they appeared looked ominous enough to send slight chills down my spine.
Not that I would ever admit to it.

I couldn't see their face though because of the hood, but something about them made me frown.
Was it one of the inquisitors?
The way they held themselves and walked seemed familiar... but... also completely off.
It was full of-... hunger.
A look I've seen many of times before in those seeking revenge. Sometimes even redemption.

So then, it couldn't possibly be an inquisitor, right...? So... could it be that Maul character Kanan had warned us about...?

As my mind rushed for answers several storm troopers suddenly appeared in the hallway and blocked the way in front of the cloaked figure.

I stared with building tension as the figure just stopped, the end of the cloak swishing forward ominously as they presumably listened to the troopers shouting orders at them. But I couldn't hear any audio, which had me cursing the Empire's poor video quality.

It might've done good to actually hear the voice from the cloaked person if they had responded!
They could've been identified!
Tsk.
Stupid Empire.

The figure definitely must've said something back though, cause the trooper in front suddenly stepped back.
I didn't have to wait long to guess why as the cloaked figure held his arm out to his side so casually it was eerie and something flew off of one of the straps that made up their belt in a blur and into their waiting hand.

-Fear-

My breath caught as the all to familiar double-sided lightsaber activated, glowing eerily red in the darkened hallway.

An Inquisitor!

Why would an Inquisitor be attacking their own side though?
A defector?
But didn't Kanan say the Inquisitors were eliminated back on Malachor?

Then... who was this?

The troopers starting firing at the figure quickly after they had pulled out the saber, finally doing something smart for once.
But like usual it didn't matter.
None of them connected with the target.
The figure easily deflected the blasts into the walls around them like all saber wielders seemed to do.

I watched with building awe a little guiltily as the figure moved fluidly, a deadly grace making them a dark blur as they started advanced suddenly through the blaster fire without even a tear in their robe.

The first trooper went down without the chance to even move.

Another went down with a slice across the chest as the figure spun with their saber seamlessly.

The last never stood a chance.

The trooper tried to turn away and run, but that was a mistake.
As soon as the trooper put his back to the figure they became a black blur once more and seemed to rush past him before stopping in front of him, their blade coming to a rest beside them in one smooth movement.

The trooper stopped in his tracks with his gun held loosely in front of him, looking as if dazed.

I stared for a moment in building confusion, unsure of what had happened.

What did they just-...?

I jerked back and knocked my chair over as I stood and I covered my mouth in shock.

On the screen the troopers head had slid off of him without resistance, his body dropped to its knees lifelessly before falling over to join the rest of the bodies on the floor.

Whoever this person was, I now knew what kind of person they truly were. The video spoke for itself.
They were ruthless.
A killer without hesitance.

I was desperately hoping we didn't run into whoever this new person was while looking around for Ezra.
It certainly wouldn't go down good.

The figure suddenly cocked their head slightly as if hearing something -most likely a communication coming through an earpiece- before deactivating their saber and sliding it back on their belt.
I could see their attire a bit when they slid their cloak back doing so, and not surprisingly I saw it entirely black.
Fitting, it seemed.

Did all the dangerous people like black or something?

With a sigh I pulled the chair back up and sat back down heavily as the figure began making their way down the hallway again.
The video presumably about to end.

But then I saw something that made my blood run cold.

I sat there staring at the screen as the video went off for a couple seconds before I quickly reloaded the holo-vid and fast-forwarded it to the end again.

There.

Pausing the video I stared.

Before they walked off screen the figure had glanced up to the camera, like they knew they were being recorded.

But that isn't what stopped me cold.
Part of their face was clearly visible through the shadows now.

They had yellow eyes. I could tell that as clear as day.

Sith eyes, Kanan had said once.

Sith eyes, that now resided in the face of someone I knew all to well.

"Oh no..." I put my hand to my mouth in growing horror as a tear unconsciously slid over my cheek. "...What have you done...?"

The glowing eyes of one Ezra Bridger stared back through the frozen camera as if in silent answer.