ME: Time for "Blood Sisters" to be adapted. Sorry for the lack of updates, I was finishing Clone Wars Omnibus 2 and Tom Clancy's Under Fire. If you're wondering why I'm using the episode title, it's because I want to keep chapters named but couldn't figure something else out.

It is true biological weapons are, objectively, impractical due to the fact they can backfire horribly and even needlessly cruel since civilians can and do die from them regardless of the intent of those who deploy bioweapons. However, I predict my nano-virus will actually reduce collateral damage. In its current form, the weapon is only lethal to Humans. This alone would reduce civilian casualties. But that it isn't nearly enough, so my team is currently working on engineering the virus so it will specifically target the Republic's slave army. It truly is the kindest thing I can realistically do for these sentients whose lives are spent to prop up a Coruscanticentric dictatorship that is nothing but a pseudo-democracy.

(Journal of Doctor Ovolot Qail Uthan, scientist of the Confederacy of Independent Systems)

Sabine still wore her beskar plates, but now wore a bodysuit under them.

The Navy SEAL (Space, Air and Land) platoon assigned to Phoenix Fleet had made it for her on Diana's suggestion. After taking Sabine's measurements, the group had manufactured a bodysuit using a fabricator

"Thanks, guys," she told them.

The leader of the SEALs nodded, his face masked by his helmet's visor. "You're welcome. We're still pretty pissed at you and your buddies for what happened to Phoenix Home and Merrik's fellow pilots, but you guys did save the Ibaarians. I suppose we owe you one."

Diana still was distant, but Sabine had learned why the Concordian had gotten the commandos to make a bodysuit for her. "I want justice for my dead comrades, Wren," the pilot admitted. "I figured I could use allies for that, so I might as well make sure you can be more helpful. Now you'll have CBRN and vacuum protection."

In the present, Hera cleared her throat. "Alright, listen up," she began the briefing. "Sabine, I need you to locate a courier at Hangar Twenty-Two. This courier's carrying critical intelligence; we need you to transport him or her-they didn't specify gender or even species-to Havoc Outpost. Ezra, Chopper, you can accompany Sabine as backup but she's in charge. All of you need to keep a low profile. Diana, stand by to pick them up and transport them to Alderaan via Phantom."

Ezra raised an eyebrow. "How exactly will we know who's the courier?" he asked.

Hera tapped at her datapad. "They will respond to this code phrase: 'It's a long way to Alderaan.' Dismissed."

"Leader, huh, Sab'ika?" Ezra questioned. "Even though you do outrank me, I always took you for a loner."

"Not always, Ez'ika," she replied. Sabine had taught him some Mando'a to pass the time on occasion, and he did use it occasionally as they walked and Ezra talked.

Suddenly, Sabine saw something out of the corner of her eye. Taking off her helmet to make sure her visor wasn't deceiving her, Sabine saw the mark of a former ally.

"Hey, what's that?" a certain Jedi Padawan asked.

"Nothing," Sabine lied, putting her helmet back on. "It ain't my artwork, at least." That was true.

The two then tried but failed to find the courier amongst the shuttle passengers.

"It's gonna be a long way back to Ghost if we don't find the courier," Ezra stated.

Sabine groaned in frustration. "You said the phrase correctly, right?"

"Yeah, of course!" Ezra snapped as he sat down on a crate, clearly frustrated as well. "It's a long way to Alderaan."

Suddenly the crate Ezra was on stood up, revealing itself to be a GNK droid instead of a cargo container. "What is wrong with this thing?" Ezra asked.

"Wait, that's the courier!" Sabine realized.

Ezra proceeded to get off. "Talk about a low profile, this guy came in with the cargo payload," she continued. "Says here he's EG-dash-Eight-Six."

"Nice to meet you, EeGee," Ezra said, patting EG on his head. "Though I honestly have no idea why anyone would store critical data in your brain."

"Would you think a GNK droid could be a spy?"

"No, I guess not."

"That's too bad, kid," said a voice Sabine unfortunately recognized as a female figure jumped down. "Because I know that things are often hidden in plain sight."

"Ketsu Onyo," Sabine hissed.

A stand off began. "I say your mark, old friend."

"Friend, huh?" the bounty hunter snarked. "A bit of a generous term, Sabine, considering what happened."

"Oh, so you two know each other?" Ezra questioned.

"Still a bounty hunter, I see," Sabine said.

"Tell me ya don't miss it."

"Wait," said Ezra, "you were a bounty hunter, Sabine? That explains a lot."

"I don't think Ketsu's here for a reunion," said Sabine.

"You know me well," Ketsu replied. "I may be willing to hire out my skills for profit, but today I'm just here for the droid."

Immediately Chopper reacted, only for Ezra to calm him down. "Hey, Sabine, how do you two know each other?"

"She never told you how we broke out of the Imperial Academy back on Manda'yaim together?"

"That was a long time ago, bitch!" Sabine snapped. "Before you got greedy and left me for dead."

Ketsu actually laughed at that. "You'd have been better off dead than joining this band of rebels. Remember the Separatists-or Confederates, depending on whether you were a Loyalist or not-from the Clone Wars? The history books may be slanted toward Palps's point of view, but there is one bit of truth: They lost. Just like you di'kute are gonna lose this war. I didn't believe the rumors until the Imps put a bounty on you."

"You gonna collect on it?" Sabine asked, both hands gripping her pistols.

"Haven't decided on that yet, Sabine," Ketsu answered. "But I do work for the Black Sun now, and I got another job to finish."

"I can't let you do that."

As the two Mandalorians stared each other down, Ketsu did not grab her rifle but kept a hand on her sidearm.

"Hey, now," Ezra said, trying to defuse the situation. "How about we all relax before-."

"You there!" Three police officers approached. One carried a blaster shotgun, the second carried a rifle, and the third had a pistol in one hand and the leash of an akk in another.

"-that happens."

"What are you doing here, citizens?" Rifle Cop asked. "This hangar is now off-limits, you need to leave immediately."

"Don't interrupt us!" Ketsu snapped, drawing her pistol and shooting the unfortunate cop in the throat. He gurgled before hitting the floor, undoubtedly fatally wounded.

"Shit!" Both Shotgun Cop and Akk Cop went for cover immediately, the latter barely keeping her akk from going after the rebels and the mercenary. "Dispatch, we have an officer down! I repeat, officer down! Get the Army down here, we need backup immediately!"

"What the hell was that for?" Ezra snapped at Ketsu. "That was a cop!"

The bounty hunter snorted. "Would you prefer if I had killed a Stormtrooper?"

"Enough!" Sabine turned to Chopper. "Get EeGee onto the shuttle, now!"

"Enjoy the Imps, then!" Ketsu said, leaping away.

Sabine undoubtedly knew that her fellow former Cadet wasn't abandoning the fight out of cowardice; she would find some way to take advantage of this.

As if one cue, ten Army troopers in gray uniforms ran into view and joined the two surviving police officers.

"Die, rebel scum!"

"Sabine, go!" Ezra said. "I'll cover you!"

"I'm not gonna leave you behind!" she snapped back.

"You think I'm gonna get overwhelmed by bucketheads? GO, DAMMIT!"

Sabine reluctantly complied and ran onto the ship. "I'm sorry," said the RX-series pilot droid, "but there are no more flights scheduled for this evening. If you contact-."

"I don't have time to buy a ticket!" She interrupted. "Chop, shut him down and take over!"

"How dare you!" The pilot droid said. "This is private property, you cannot-."

Thankfully, Chopper succeeded in shutting him off and initiating takeoff.

Having defeated the remaining troopers of the squad, Ezra promptly left and contacted Diana.

"What do you mean, the mission got complicated?" The Ensign snapped. "You were supposed to keep a low profile, di'kut! Now the Imps are freaking out!"

"Well..."

A couple of Stormtroopers shook their heads after the hangar was secured. "Rebel scum, upsetting the public order," one of them snapped.

"This city's crawling with malcontents," said the other. "No, scratch that. This whole damn planet is a den of vipers."

"Good thing Governor Tarkin'll restore order soon."

*CUT TO: STOLEN SHUTTLE*

Sabine sighed as Chopper beeped at her. "I'm sure Ezra's fine, now power up the hyperdrive and set coordinates for Havoc Outpost. We were lucky to get away so easily."

Suddenly the ship's radar warning receiver beeped; however, unlike with Ghost, there were no weapons aboard the shuttle to fight off Ketsu.

"Magnetize yourselves," Sabine sighed. "We're about to be pounded."

Ion cannon rounds slammed into the unshielded vessel, disabling it.

"She's immobilized us, engines are down," the Mandalorian reported as she made sure her helmet was sealed. "Stand by, odds are she's gonna cause a hull breach right about..."

Cannon fire slammed into the hatch and broke it down.

"NOW!" Sabine yelled, grateful for both her buy'ce's life support systems and the fact she was now wearing a bodysuit. Unfortunately, neither would save her from being sucked out of the shuttle and into space before Chopper could engage the unfamiliar safety features.

Osik...

*CUT TO: SHADOW CASTER*

Ketsu Onyo viewed herself as a professional who completed her missions at all costs.

So rather than spring some overly elaborate trap, she had simply shot Sabine with a stun round then hauled her in and restrained her.

"Alright, droid," she said after contacting the stolen shuttle. "Here's my offer-your meatbag friend in exchange for your fellow beskar'ad."

The astromech agreed, evidently attached to Ketsu's former friend.

Glad to see your priorities are in order, tinnie.

She forced the handcuffed Sabine to stand up at gunpoint. "C'mon, move it-your droid agreed to a trade, I'm getting the bounty on that power droid whether you like it or not."

To Ketsu's frustration, the GNK droid stayed on the shuttle while the astromech moved as if to confront her.

"You're not giving up the courier, are you?" The bounty hunter did not expect an answer to her rhetorical question. "Not very smart sticking your neck out and risking the objective for Sabine, droid. Do you have no sense of self-preservation or at least priorities?"

"Chopper's more than just a droid, you chakaar!" Sabine snapped angrily. "He's a rebel and a friend! So if you want the courier, you're gonna have to take him from both of us!" As if one cue, she escaped from her binders and stood between Ketsu and the two droids.

Ketsu got her pistol ready in the event of her former partner trying anything then sighed. "Grow up, vod'ika. You can't be foolish enough to think your cause can actually succeed."

"Once we were like vode," said Sabine. "But we only cared about ourselves. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I forgive you."

"For what?"

"For leaving me for dead. I met people who gave me a second chance, and that's what I'm giving you."

Ketsu's eyes widened in shock. "W-what?" She sputtered. "Surely you can't be serious."

"I am serious, Ketsu. And don't call me-."

"Attention, Garel shuttle," said a Core Worlds accent. "This is the Imperial Navy, we have identified this craft as a stolen vessel. Prepare to be boarded."

"Looks like we're friends again."

Ketsu shook her head. "Not like we got much of a choice, but I'd like to live to make creds another day."

*CUT TO: IMPERIAL CORVETTE*

The CO of the CR92a Assassin-class corvette frowned as the stolen shuttle tried to flee. "This pilfering thieve is bold but foolish. Gunners, target the cockpit of the shuttle and fire."

Remarkable enough, the other starship detached and actually did a decent job of attempting to flee before being caught by the tractor beam.

"Sir," said the sensor operator, "I'm detecting an increased amount of energy from the shuttle."

"Anyone still on board, then?" the Captain asked.

"Negative, Skipper. No life forms on infrared."

At that moment, the shuttle suddenly exploded.

"GAH!"

"Hyperdrive explosion!"

"We've lost the tractor beam!"

At that moment, the criminals escaped into hyperspace.

"Son of a bitch!" The Captain shook his head, knowing he had to handle things. "Alright, I want this reported in immediately, Comms. Operations, damage report?"

The Lieutenant coughed. "Captain, we've lost the tractor beam due to debris. No casualties reported."

Though he would have normally been grateful at losing none of his subordinates, the corvette CO was angry. The Assassin-class corvette he helmed was a newly commissioned vessel, but now she had been damaged with nothing to show for it.

*CUT TO: SHADOW CASTER*

When Sabine awoke, she was surprised to be resting in a bed.

"Huh?" the Lance Corporal asked. "Did I die and go to the manda?"

"Nope."

Sabine found Ketsu standing up, her helmet and twin pistols resting on a stool.

"You could have left me for dead aboard that shuttle," she began, "taken the droids, and made a good profit. Screw it, turning me into the Empire would've gotten you good creds."

"It's only money," Ketsu replied. "Besides, the fact you forgave me-which honestly wasn't something I would do in your boots-made me feel like I had to do something. Though if it makes you feel any better, Black Sun doesn't tolerate failings, so I'll probably have to go independent."

Sabine smiled. "There's the Ketsu I know and love."

"Shut up, don't ruin this."

ME: A/N: No, I'm not endorsing Ketsu/Sabine. The last two sentences were for humor alone.

I mentioned Ketsu worrying about her superiors offing her or whatever since, from what I know, Black Sun is NOT a pleasant employer.

I had civilian police confront Ezra, Sabine, and Chopper because it would be a change from them constantly encountering troops. Granted, the lack of cops on Lothal could be a result of them being absorbed or something.

I hoped this was alright, guys. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta finish Imperial Commando: 501st. If you guys know of any decent quality Legends reading material, feel free to recommend it. I haven't read everything-I haven't read many Legends books, in fact.

The Navy SEALs are a reference, of course, to some of America's finest heroes. Imagine them as looking like ODSTs from Halo since they're in space.

This chapter is dedicated to Yonatan Netanyahu, the only IDF fatality during Operation Entebbe and the older brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The PFLP, along with Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, Quds Force, Al-Qaeda, etc, can go jump off a cliff. People complain about the Israelis "committing genocide"-perhaps they should learn of the Halabja Massacre, where thousands of Kurds (who still don't have their own state, while the Arabs have more than a dozen states) were killed in one day by nerve gas. The Israeli Defense Force takes action to defend their friends and families and actually tries to minimize collateral damage, unlike the savage barbarians they fight. In light of Operation Meetinghouse, Dresden, Nagasaki, and Hiroshima, we Westerners should avoid hypocritically judging the Jewish people.