I walk back to the crew area, water bottle now in hand.
"So Zeb's a General?!" Sabine asked, sounding incredulous.
"Going to be, yeah." Kanan smiled.
"How'd we miss that?" Sabine asked.
"Yeah, we almost never saw him on Onderon." I say, settling in next to Sabine.
"Meetings mostly. We ran him thru a ton of battle simulations. First to see if he could do it, then see how good a commander he is." Rex said.
Huh.
If I remember right, he came up with some battle…
Oh yeah.
He came up with a battle algorithm that Echo had on him when he got captured by the Seperatists.
"How'd he do?" I ask.
"Really good. He definitely is good enough to lead troops." Echo nodded.
Ahsoka smiled as Lux's eyes followed Hera back into the room.
"Everybody ready?" Hera asked.
I nod, along with Ahsoka and Echo.
Everyone else didn't really move.
Hera quietly typed in some numbers on the Holo, and stepped back.
Then a man in military clothes appeared.
"General Sato? Ghost home team, reporting in." Hera said to the man.
"Good, good. I assume that your evasionary tactics have met no Imperial patrols?" The man said, with a slight accent.
"Yes." Ahsoka nodded.
"Glad to hear it. There's been movement in a decent portion of the Imperial Navy to Geonosis for reasons unknown. A portion of the generals have been concerned about you being compromised in all their movement."
"Nope. Haven't seen a soul truthfully." Rex said.
I wouldn't know.
I've been laying down pretty much all day.
I've just been exhausted.
The General nodded, then turned back to Hera.
"General Syndulla, do you have the reports about your crew's experiences escaping Onderon?"
"Yes. Transmitting them now." Hera replied, sticking a memory stick into the Holo.
…
"Alright. We just received them. They'll go down to the analysts."
Sabine glanced over at me, looking slightly worried.
We put together our reports together after I woke up from my impromptu nap in the gun turret yesterday.
I told it like it was, including Atin's words about taking me out.
I didn't really register it at the time.
I think he would have actually killed me, if I'd messed up and given him the chance.
Sabine told pretty much the same story, but the way she worded it made it seem more out of desperation to escape with his own life.
Which I can't blame her for.
I don't like it, but I'm not her. I can't tell her what to do or how to feel.
"What's our next move then?" Kanan asked.
I grab my water bottle and take a sip.
"Well, that's a complicated answer. In short, we're splitting you all up."
Huh?
"What do you mean 'splitting us up'?" Hera asked.
"How about this General? I can just give everyone their new assignments, as decided upon by High Command and the General Council. Then we can work from there."
Hera nodded, while Kanan is frowning.
I glance around to see Lux and Ahsoka, both looking slightly concerned.
Echo is just watching the Holo, while Rex is sipping on his cup of insta-caf.
Chopper is just quietly behind Hera and Kanan, in the entryway to the cockpit.
"Alright. General Syndulla and General Jarrus are both going to the planet Abafor. Mr. Wren sent in the final blueprints for the B-Wing to a manufacturer a few weeks ago. We're sending you to check up on the progress of the ship."
Okay.
So, whatever Sabine's Dad was working on for us, is now called a "B-Wing".
Huh.
"Captain Rex and Commander Echo, you both will be reporting back to Safe Zone, in order to continue training incoming recruits."
"Yes sir." Rex said quickly, while Echo nodded.
"General Tano. You and Mr. Bontiri are free to go where you choose, per your agreements."
Sabine quickly glanced over at them.
Huh?
What agreements?
"Finally, Mr. Bridger and Ms. Wren will be going to Denon for an undercover infiltration operation."
Silence quickly swept the entire room.
WHAT?
"No." Kanan said quickly.
"They're not ready! Are you kidding me?" Hera sprung to her feet.
"No. We believe that Captain Rex and Commander Echo, along with Mr. Bridger's extra training have them ready for this operation." The General said simply.
"I disagree. Ezra's not ready yet. He defeated an hostile enemy, but they're not ready to be considered independent of the Ghost Cell." Ahsoka said simply.
Behind Hera and Kanan, Chopper made a noise of protest.
"Besides, we didn't teach them anything about infiltration. That's a delicate thing! If you mess up once, you don't come home." Echo said matter of factly.
"Exactly!" Kanan said, gesturing to Echo.
"SILENCE!" The General yelled, clearly agitated.
The room went silent again.
…
"Now. High Command and the General Council knew that the assignment for Mr. Bridger and Ms. Wren would be controversial with you all. However…let me remind you." The General paused.
…
"Mr. Bridger and Ms. Wren are both adults in the eyes of the galaxy, being over the age of 16. They have willing participated in the Rebel Alliance and joined of their own volition. Having done such, the General Council and High Command BOTH…have the authority, thanks to the bylaws, to utilize both Mr. Bridger and Ms. Wren however they choose and where they see a need."
…
He's rendering their complaints moot.
"You knew this General Syndulla. You all did. Back on Polis Massa, you said that every member of your crew would willingly work on their own in order to forward the rebel cause. Do not forget that. The Council and High Command are simply utilizing their powers how they see fit and where they believe the two of them could make a large impact on the situation." General Sato said simply, but quite firmly.
"We believe something is going on. Something very large. This assignment, being undertaken and assigned to Mr. Bridger and Ms. Wren, is final, and of the utmost importance. The details have already been worked out, and will be sent to your ship shortly."
…
"All right then." Hera said simply, keeping her tone even.
The General smiled slightly.
"Any other questions?" He asked looking to Rex, Echo, Lux and Ahsoka.
Lux shook his head.
"No. I don't think so." Ahsoka said.
"Fair enough. The dossiers for each of your missions were just transmitted. Over and Out."
Then the Holo went dark, removing the blue light from the room.
The other lights just seem dimmer now.
…
Kanan wordlessly let out a heavy breath and walked into the cockpit.
Hera quickly followed, and they locked the door behind them.
"Let's go see what we're dealing with, and go from there." Lux suggested to Ahsoka.
Ahsoka nodded, and I feel her agitation in the Force as she and Lux walk back to Sabine's room.
I turn to Rex and Echo, who are looking at us.
"Don't blame yourselves. This…this happens sometimes." Rex said, then put his hand on my shoulder. "Not your fault."
Sabine nervously shrugged.
"I guess we should look things over too. There's always a way to bend the orders if we need to." Echo said, looking at Rex.
"True. I suggest you two go do the same." Rex suggested to us.
"Thanks." Sabine smiled.
I nod.
"No problem." Rex said, then Echo starts back to my room.
…
Sabine wordlessly grabbed my hand and started back towards our makeshift area.
Since we had to all escape onto the Ghost, we had to change up room assignments.
Rex and Echo are in Zeb and I's old room.
Lux and Ahsoka are in Sabine's room.
Everybody's stuff, plus a bunch of materials are in the guest room.
So Sabine had to move down with me.
We're making the best of the situation. She grabbed all the blankets she could and made a really comfy bed.
I didn't really do anything. As I said, I took a nap, and all that stuff happened.
I woke up to Sabine downloading something over a fueling station's HoloNet connection, wrapped up in a bunch of blankets.
As it turns out, they grabbed everything from our rooms on Onderon.
Pictures, clothes, sheets, everything.
Sabine was thoughtful enough to tap the pictures of Sophie and I, plus the two of us right by the gun turret to make it a little friendlier.
"So…Denon?" She asked me, turning to face me holding my hand.
Without another word, she grabbed my other hand.
I shrug.
"Never heard of it."
"Let's see then." Sabine smiled, then slipped off her shoes and socks and sat on our little fluffy blanket bed.
I sit next to her as she pulls up a galaxy map.
…
Denon.
Inner Rim.
"What's a ecumenopolis?" I ask Sabine.
"It's a city world. The entire planet is just one big city." She explained. "Imperial City is one."
"So when you look out on the horizon, you see buildings? No oceans or anything?"
Sabine nodded her head.
"Exactly."
"Huh." I say.
Sabine nodded, then pulled up our mission dossier, which just was sent down.
…
Arrival planetside…
TOMORROW?
I look up at Sabine, who's biting her lip.
…
I look back to the datapad.
From the spaceport, we're supposed to use the passports we had from Mandalore and go to an apartment.
Address: 4047589 Flash Ave. Apartment 5671.
From there, there will be more instruction in the pantry. 3rd shelf.
…
I guess that's to prevent information from falling into enemy hands.
…
I lean back and Sabine looks up.
"So…we're going to be on our own I guess."
"Yeah."
"Tomorrow too." She added.
"Yeah, seems a little fast. Don't you think?" I ask her.
Sabine shrugged.
"No reason to waste time. Plus everyone else probably needs to get going too."
"Are their assignments on there?"
Sabine shook her head.
"I tried getting them on here, but I think they encrypted the file so we can only see ours. That way in case we get captured we can't give away the information."
I wouldn't talk!
"I wouldn't talk." I shrug in exasperation.
"Ask Hera. I said basically the same thing to her and she said to trust her. We probably have heard too much anyway." Sabine rolled her eyes.
Whatever.
I lean back and fall into my pillows.
…
We've got a mission.
Our own mission.
Sabine gently set the datapad down and laid down, head on my chest.
"You ok?"
I look down and see she's looking up at me.
I shrug.
"Got some stuff on my mind."
Sabine quickly frowned and curled closer.
"About the fight?"
"No."
I've had a clear mind about that.
"You…you did kill that Inquisitor. It'd be normal to feel guilty about that." She said softly.
"It was either me or him. I was in control of the fight, but he had such a strength advantage that he could have just tossed me into the ravine." I reply.
…
"From where I was and what Kanan taught me to look for when you were training, that's how it looked. But you never know." Sabine said simply.
"You must have been nervous." I say.
"I was dying. I wanted to shoot, but didn't want to do it and cause you to be at a disadvantage. IF you would have fallen down I would have jumped in." Sabine nodded.
"Like when I kicked him?" I ask.
"Yeah. He must have been built of like rock. It looked like a strong kick and he didn't budge."
"About 8 feet tall too."
Sabine sighed and curled closer.
…
…
Might as well just tell her.
The first thought I had this morning.
"Sabine, I…" I start, causing her to look up at me.
"What?"
…
"Should we stop whatever…this is?" I ask, heart pounding.
…
Sabine sat up, face expressionless.
"You're nervous about this."
"Well…yeah. We never said was this was. We've just done." I say.
Sabine smiled at me.
"I'm returning your affection towards me. Is that a bad thing?"
I shrug.
"You're nervous." She said.
Then she crawled on top of me.
"Don't be nervous."
Quickly, I use the Force to find Kanan and Ahsoka.
We'd hear them coming, but it's good to check.
"What if you meet somebody there though?" I ask her.
"That's a possibility. I could have met somebody on Onderon, but it didn't happen. You can always ask that question." Sabine replied.
"But then we'd be all messed up. And I don't want to lose you." I tell her.
"You're not going to lose me. I always want to be in your life. Somebody's got to keep you in line." She giggled.
I laugh and roll my eyes.
"Still though." I say again.
In reply, Sabine yawned, then wrapped her arms around my neck and came face to face with me.
"Be honest to me for a second?"
"Sure. Because I've been lying this whole time." I joke, then smile.
Sabine laughed, then gave me a brief, chaste kiss.
"This…this isn't about you wanting more is it?" She whispered into my ear.
More?
…
This isn't far enough for her?
I shake my head.
"No. I haven't thought about anything more. And I don't want to be that guy."
She smiled, then scooted closer.
"It's okay if you do. It'd have to wait until tomorrow night, but we could kiss a little more tonight to tide you over…" She whispered, then nibbled at my ear.
"Sabine…I don't want to be that guy."
"You wouldn't be. I know you. I love you. We all have needs."
"You…"
She loves me?
"Not like that. A little like that." She clarified, then gave me another chaste kiss."
…
"I'll let you know about tomorrow." I compromise.
I…
I don't know.
I've never done a girl like that.
"Okay. All you have to do…" She said softly, then grabbed my hands.
And slipped them right up her shirt.
I freeze up, and she smiled at me, then put my hands on her back, holding onto her bra.
"That. That's all you have to do. And I'll know what that means. Okay?"
I nod, and Sabine rolled her eyes.
"You're so…good."
I laugh.
"You want me to be badder?"
In response, she quirked an eyebrow.
"Maybe."
I laugh again, then peck her lips.
"Ooh. I like it." She told me.
"Now for me to ask a question."
Sabine immediately moved to get away from me.
"Hey. It's fair. C'mon Sabine." I tell her.
She stopped, and I drop my hands down to her hips.
Her skin is ridiculously soft.
"Fine. I know what you're going to ask."
"And why." I remind her.
She nodded, sitting up and moving to my stomach.
…
Nobody's coming.
"Atin. You okay with what happened?"
Sabine shrugged, looking tired.
"I…he made up his mind. My first thought was maybe we could bring him with us, but no. He wanted to…kill you and run away with me."
I shake my head.
"He wouldn't have killed me. Couldn't have if he tried."
"You never know though." She quickly replied.
"I had the Force, and my lightsaber. And his blaster if I really wanted it. I would have been okay."
Sabine raised eyebrows.
"Somebody's suddenly confident."
"I was in control of the situation." I reply.
He was scared for his life.
And he tried to punch me.
We saw how that ended up.
"Thank you for not killing him."
I quickly look up to see Sabine not meeting my eye.
"I wouldn't have killed him. I knew you'd hate me, and I don't want to kill anyone." I say.
Sabine shrugged.
"He tried to knock you out with one punch."
"And gave me a stiff breeze." I tell her.
"I don't know…you think he'll be okay?"
Despite my best efforts, I'm instantly annoyed.
"As long he's a good liar." I say.
…
"Sorry. I know you don't like him. But I've known him forever. I'm just a little worried."
I keep quiet, knowing everything I could say won't help.
Thankfully, the silence was quickly broken by the sound of the comm beeping.
Sabine scrambled off me and look at the screen.
Then smiled at me.
"We're going to eat together and talk about tomorrow. Starting that way now."
Oh cool.
That'll be nice.