Ezra's Search: Chapter 6

Ezra has found Kanan and Hera on Ryloth and after helping the Twil'ek's defeat a Pirate Imperial Remnant he has convinced them to eventually return to Mandalor. Unknown to Him Fenn Rau has kidnapped his son and wants Ezra to meet him on Tantooine in one week. The reasons are unknown to Sabine, Ursa and Alrich who up to that point considered him a close friend and comrade.

Fenn Rau flew his modified fighter away from the Wren fortress. Glancing back at the one year old boy, he felt a pang of guilt. He dismissed it, he had no choice now. He did feel bad that the boy's mother was being affected by this, at this point he knew his decisions were justified. He had planned on challenging Ezra for five years but each time he was about to, something came up. He wanted Sabine ever since he had met her, it was only by bad circumstances that she had chosen Ezra. Now he was going to force Ezra to meet and fight him. Fenn had considered challenging Ezra back on Mandalor at the Wren Clan great hall but he did not want to expose his other children or Sabine to him killing Ezra in front of them. This way was better, since the quadrants were by a Sarlac pit. That way Fenn could feed Ezra to the Sarlac then return to Mandalor and claim Sabine. It all made sense to him as he set the course and engaged the hyper-drive.

Sabine reread the note and felt anger swell inside her, but she knew that Fenn Rau would have a planned-out excuse on why he did what he did. First checking on her Daughters she then went to the communicator. Before she could contact Ezra, she saw a recorded message encrypted for her. Typing in her name a recorded voice spoke to her. It was Fenn Rau.

"Sabine, I am sorry I have done this, but I must meet Ezra in honorable combat. I originally wanted you as a Mate and believe that I need to challenge Ezra for your hand. Once I have defeated him I will return and place my claim on you. I hope you understand why I am doing this."

The message ended and Sabine stared at the speaker. She could not believe it, he had to be insane. Mumbling. "He is insane. He kidnaps my son, plans to kill my mate and believes that if he does he can come here like nothing has happened that I would not kill him on sight." Tapping into the comm she contacted Ezra. Believing that Rau was deluded and Ezra should be careful, but to bring back their son.

When Ezra heard the encrypted message that Sabine sent him he felt rage, and anger swell into his very soul. Closing his eyes, he allowed calm to replace the feelings. He could not allow his anger and rage affect him. That was the path to the dark-side. As much as he would like to find Rau and rip him apart for kidnapping his son, he could not let such emotions over take him. Telling the others about the message, he heard Zeb snarl viciously and Tristan swear a Mandalorian curse. Rex immediately set course for Tantooine.

"So, what are we going to do?" Tristan asked as he pulled his pistol out. Checking the charge.

"We are not going to do anything. I am." Ezra said calmly seeing the others glare at him. Each wanted to personally kill Rau in the most hideous way.

"You are not going alone?" Tristan asked as he put his blaster back into its holster and removed his vibro-knife.

"Yes, knowing Rau he will have my son Torva with him until he gets what he wants. He will plan for everything including if any of you come along." Ezra stated seeing the others grimace at the thought of Ezra facing Rau alone. "At most I will ask that Tristan comes so he can take Torva back to his mother in case something happens to me."

"I do not know if this is important or not, but Fenn Rau had me find him a Lightsaber a couple of years ago." Rex related as he thought back to when Rau was considered a friend and comrade.

"So, he has had time to practice with a Lightsaber." Ezra said quietly considering what this could mean. "He will then most likely want this to be a duel with lightsabers."

"Do you believe that he might be deluded or insane. I mean no one has challenged a chosen Mate for almost five hundred years and most of those back then was not a mutual original mated pair." Tristan added as he thought perhaps that Rau was not thinking rationally. The war had been hard on him.

"What Sabine told me is that he wanted to place a claim on her for years. That now he believes once he kills me that she will accept him as a replacement." Ezra commented then stood.

"Could be." Rex said as they all watched Ezra stand and head for the back of the cabin.

"I am going to Meditate on this, maybe the Force can provide an answer." Ezra went into a small room, closed the door and knelt on the floor to concentrate on the situation.

Rau Fenn landed his ship on the sand dunes one hundred meters from the Sarlac. Touching the Lightsaber that Rex had found for him he smiled. Now all he had to do is wait. As he began to think he shook his head. Something was wrong, he thought as he looked out at the sand dunes. Could he be wrong, Sabine had never shown any type of interest in him other than friendship. No, he concluded. She was not Bond Mated to the right person. Ezra was not a Mandalorian and he did not deserve her. He determined as he glanced back at the sleeping young boy. The drug he had given the youth was keeping him asleep. He dared not give him another dose, it was not designed for someone so young and it could cause harm to him. He did not want that, Sabine would most likely kill him and not accept his claim, if Rau hurt her son. Checking the scanners, he put the ship on limited power. It was time to wait, eventually Ezra would arrive and he would then fight and kill him. Then take Sabine's son back to her and claim her as his. Along with her children. Ah it would be wonderful he thought, raising them as his children. Looking fondly at the sleeping child he decided that he would finally get what he most wanted. Sabine, her children and to fight Ezra. What could go wrong?

Sabine walked the long corridors. She was angry, hurt and in pain. Rau had betrayed the Mandalorian code. They no longer aloud the challenge of a mate for over five hundred years. As she looked into Torva's room she felt her heart drop. How could he do this? If it was not that she would lose Ezra, she wished that Rau would be right before her so she could personally kill him. Then take his armor and hang him naked on one of the great towers, showing that he had dishonored himself. Exhaling she almost wished that she could be on Tantooine when Ezra beat Rau. She hoped that Ezra does beat Rau, but if Ezra does fall she would kill Rau as soon as he comes here. No mercy, no delays and no reluctance. Turning she went to check on Selena and Mera. Passing a pair of Mandalorian guards that were posted at their chamber doors. Confused she had not remembered that her mother had sent them she looked at them.

The one of higher rank spoke. "Milady we have failed you, so now we and the others are now posted to guard the remaining heirs. It will not happen again."

"It was not your fault, Orsat." Sabine said to him.

"Until the boy heir is returned we will assume that Rau may come back for the Selena and Mera. My Mate is inside with them to personally guard them with her life." Orsat said then went back to standing guard.

Sabine felt proud, the others of the Wren Clan had decided in some fashion that they have failed to protect the Heirs to the Wren Clan and now they feel it is their duty to ensure while Rau is loose to protect them. She had originally feared that most or all the other Clan members did not except her chosen mate or their children. But now she knew that they did. Entering the chamber, she saw Orsat's Bond Mate standing quiet guard watching the windows. Outside Sabine could see several Armored men and women patrolling the walls.

"Good evening Sabine." Evetta said glancing at her as she then went back to watching the windows and Selena and Mera.

"Thank you for this Evetta." Sabine replied then went to comfort her daughters who were upset.

"We protect those within our clan, I pray that your Bond Mate returns soon with victory and your son Torva." Evetta said. Sabine could not help but feel maybe this kidnapping did have one positive aspect to it, it has drawn the clan closer together than it was before.

To be continued.