(Flashback)
I turn my key rod in the door, feeling Sabine's familiar and comforting Force signature just a few feet away.
In the living room I think.
I slip inside and close the door behind me, then turn to survey the scene around me.
Sabine's got all the lights on, with something on the stove.
She's in the living room, working on…something.
"Sabine?" I call out to her.
In the living room, Sabine turned around, wires coming out of her ears.
She lit up, scrambled to her feet and pulled the wires out of her ears.
"Hey! You're okay!" She beamed, coming over and quickly hugging me.
"Yeah. Wasn't too bad." I shrug.
The majority of the trip was spent in hyperspace watching the Holo like it's a weekend.
Sabine looked up at me, then rolled her eyes.
"I was waiting to order food until you got back. Unless you ate on the way back?" She asked me.
I shake my head.
"No, I haven't eaten. I'm starving."
Sabine smiled, then quickly pressed a few buttons on the comm on her wrist.
"Pasta okay?" She asked me without looking up.
"Sounds great actually." I confess.
Man that sounds good.
Sabine smiled, then typed into her comm a few more times.
"It should be here in 15-20 minutes." Sabine looked up finally.
I smile at her. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Anything new come out of the mission? Or was it just boring old arms trafficking?" Sabine asked me.
"Boring old arms trafficking." I shrug.
Then my stomach ties itself into the knot it was in on the entire trip home.
"But I did hear about Operation Remnant." I tell her before she spoke up.
Sabine's head popped up.
"Really?"
I nod.
"What about it? Any details?" She asked quickly.
I shake my head.
"No, it was right before we came home. A Moff was giving us our new assignments, and the last one was to a girl named Brie. And she's apparently been working on it for awhile."
Sabine's eyebrows snapped down.
"Tell me exactly what she said."
"She said, 'Brie, you will continue your work on Operation Remnant'". I reply.
Sabine bit her lip.
…
"So it's ongoing?"
"I guess so." I shrug.
I don't know anything.
I just heard the words.
"Anything else on it?" Sabine asked me.
I shake my head.
"No. I was hoping somebody would say something on the way home, but nope. Nothing." I say.
Sabine sighed.
"Let's report in really quick. Maybe come up with a plan of action for you."
I nod.
I don't know what to do next.
I've never done this before!
Sabine walked to the holo, and started typing quickly.
My attention is drawn to the canvas Sabine was drawing on.
It looks like the night sky here.
I look out the window, and it looks just like Sabine's painting.
"Is this our view?" I ask Sabine.
She paused, and looked over.
"Yeah. Do you like it?"
"Yeah. I didn't know you did like physical paintings. I've just seen your graffiti and stuff."
Sabine smiled thinly and shrugged.
"I was just sitting around all day, being a nervous wreck because I was worried about you. Then I put on some music and just started painting that." Sabine said sheepishly.
"It looks great." I tell her.
A series of beeps cause Sabine and I to look back to the holo.
No way.
"Hey you two. How are you holding up?" Zeb asked, smiling at both of us.
"Zeb!" Sabine smiled, as I can hardly believe it.
"That is my name. Now answer my question." Zeb said, sounding half serious.
"We're good here. Are Kanan and Hera around? We've got an update." Sabine replied.
"No, I'm afraid they're back on Abafar, working on the B-Wing with your father."
"Is he there?" Sabine asked.
Then Zeb cringed.
"Actually…I don't think I was supposed to tell you that." He said, eyes still closed.
Oops.
I laugh quietly, and Zeb quickly fixes me with a look.
"Not funny kid." He joked.
"Answer me! Is Daddy there with Hera and Kanan?" Sabine told Zeb.
"Yes, he's there. The ship's progressing quite well. Faster than anticipated. But they're out of contact for a bit." Zeb answered.
Sabine smiled.
"Okay. But what do we do now?" I ask both him and Sabine.
"Well, according to regulations… I'm supposed to get a brief description of why you called, and then relay it to them as fast as I can." Zeb said, grabbing a datapad from just off the screen and reading off it.
"Regulations? Are you really Zeb? Or an imposter?" Sabine cracked a smile and joked.
"Technically I could reprimand you for not calling me General Orrelious. But I'm letting it slide for you two." Zeb cracked a smile back at her.
"I'm not calling you General." I smile at him.
Zeb simply turned to me and stared me down.
With a smirk on his face, but still.
"I don't think I could consistently." Sabine admitted.
"I know. We'd fall back into the rhythm of things." Zeb waved Sabine's concern aside. "So you're calling to update us on your mission?"
"Yeah." I reply.
"Anything I should put in the note?" Zeb asked us.
"Yeah. We heard about Operation Remnant." Sabine replied.
Zeb nodded and typed into the datapad.
…
"All right, it's in. Now before you go away, I'm trying to get onto the team that's coming to get you two when your mission ends." Zeb tells Sabine and I.
I smile.
"That'd be nice. To see a familiar face before we go home." I say.
"We haven't seen you in months Zeb." Sabine said.
"Yeah, I don't like it either. But we can't change it now. Just keep your heads down, finish this mission strong and we'll see you soon okay? We're all really proud of you two." Zeb smiled at us.
"Thanks Zeb." I say.
Sabine just smiled.
"You're welcome. I'll get Kanan and Hera pointed in your direction as fast as I can."
Sabine smiled.
"Okay."
With a final wave and smile, Zeb ended the transmission.
Sabine and I stood there for a minute, then she turned to me.
"So…what are you doing the rest of the week?"
(End Flashback)
I hit 'execute search' and watch as the program Katiey gave me start to parse thru this massive document.
Turns out, there's a lot of trading in Imperial City everyday.
It'd be impossible to look at it like I looked at the Cato Neimoidia stuff.
Katiey and I split the document. I've got N-Z, she's got A-M.
And now I'm sitting back in my chair.
I really haven't done much since our trips to Oba Diah and Cato Neimoidia.
With those 4 days off, Darcy decided that it was time to show me more of the fun side of Denon.
We went to three different amusement parks, ate out every day and lounged around at night, plus all day yesterday.
In short…I was Darcy's boyfriend, Ezra.
It's super easy for me.
Which is kind of a problem.
The more I talk to her…the more she reaffirms her belief in the Empire as the greatest good right now.
I'm not sure I'm going to be able to turn her.
And now I'm in a terrible spot.
I shake my head, trying to escape the terrible thoughts and walk over to Brie's desk.
Where she and Aiden are looking at her holo.
"Hey. Can I help?" I ask politely.
What can I learn here?
Both girls quickly turn around, and Brie turns off her holo.
"Uhh…we're okay. Aren't you working?" Brie asked, trying to be polite about it.
But also firm.
No.
"I'm running a big long search. Am I not allowed to look? High security or something?" I ask, pretending to sound a bit hurt.
Well, not really pretending.
They've never done this before.
"No. It's not anything special. But they like me to glance it over to make sure nothing is off." Brie shrugged.
"Your last stop was a lot more laid back, wasn't it?" Aiden bluntly asked me.
"Uhh…yeah. Why do you ask?" I ask Aiden.
"I don't mean to sound rude…but it's weird for you to come over and ask really. It's assigned to us."
"Anybody who isn't assigned to it doesn't need to know. We're all working on somewhat sensitive stuff. What if you see a conflict of interest of something?" Brie added.
I shrug defensively. "I don't know."
"Well, it doesn't matter. We can't let you look." Aiden said simply.
Brie looked a little sympathetic.
"Sorry."
"It's okay. No problem." I smile at the, then go back to my station.
…
Well that's bad.
…
What now?
The plan I came up with in my head over the weekend was to help Brie with whatever "Operation Remnant" stuff I could, then report to Kanan and Hera tonight what I know.
And now I know nothing.
Hera commed Sabine shortly after I left for work this morning.
I worked like a good little solider all morning, and a bit after lunch.
Then I tried to get in with Brie.
And that just went down in flames.
…
I glance at my scan.
12%.
…
Now I don't have anything to do, plus Brie shut me down, and I have nothing for the meeting tonight.
Just great.
That leaves me with more time to think about me and—
"Ezra? Come tell me what you think of this?" Darcy asked, across from me.
I stifle a sigh, then get to my feet and walk to Darcy's cubicle.
"What do you think?" Darcy smiled up at me.
It's…
It's a grey dress shirt, with a black vest and black slacks.
"I like it." I tell her. "For the ball?"
Darcy smiled and nodded.
She asked me at dinner on Friday.
And now I'm getting…dress clothes?
I thought Sabine's parents buying a jacket, shirt, pants and boots for me was bad…
"Ooh. I like it. You're gonna look hot." Lana smiled at me, then gently punching my stomach.
"Easyyy…" I joke with her, getting a giggle out of her.
"So you like it?" Darcy asked me.
I nod.
Lana silently rolled back over to her station.
Darcy quickly motioned for me to crouch.
"I know you're probably bored. Brie's just tense because what she's working on, comes down from the Emperor every Empire Day." Darcy whispered to me.
"Really?" I ask.
I knew this.
Thanks to the charming General Brroka.
Darcy nodded.
"You just don't mess with anything regarded to the Emperor. Just get it done and get away from it." Darcy told me.
"I picked the wrong time to be nice then." I say simply.
Darcy nodded.
"I'll get back to work." I tell her.
"Or pretend? There's thirty minutes left." She smiled at me.
I nod, then go back to my cubicle.
…
Blast.
Karabast.
…
I can't remember a Mandolorian word for that.
I started looking at it yesterday with Darcy as we watched the holo.
I think I want to try and learn Mandalorian.
Darcy thought it was weird, but let me have at it.
So I looked at the basics of Mando'a all last night.
…
…
I aimlessly burn the rest of the work day away, then purposefully hang back until everybody else has started to the speeder pad to begin gathering my things.
I told Darcy at lunch that I needed to go home before I came over tonight.
It's our night out.
Last week she actually got me to dance, and rewarded me well for trying it.
It was fun I guess.
Too many people.
When I get into the speeder, I try to loosen myself up.
It's not something I can really let out into the Force. It's just…me.
My mission here…this is the first critical point.
And I failed.
That, plus Darcy being amazing and loving and wonderful…
I'm starting to feel guilty.
She deserves better than a liar for a boyfriend.
The more I've been thinking since I got back from Cato Neimoidia, the worse I've felt.
Our whole relationship is built on a lie.
I am an Imperial.
I didn't really even register how bad the lie was until after I got back, like I said.
Now I can't escape it.
And I don't see how this doesn't end badly.
I tip the driver well then try to relax on the lift up to the apartment.
My attempt to release some of my nerves into the Force is sort of successful.
It's just too inside me.
This is my problem.
My mess.
I've bumped into a problem the Force can't help me with.
In fact…it'd definitely make it worse.
Halfway thru the entryway Sabine popped up, with a big smile on her face.
"Welcome home. How was your day?" She asked happily.
"Okay." I shrug, then walk in further.
"Doesn't sound okay." Sabine stated.
"I…my plan to learn more about Operation Remnant flamed out. I'm stuck. I don't know what else to do." I tell her, plopping onto the couch.
All this time, and nothing to show for my real mission.
We just know I can blend in with a group of six Imperial girls and make them all love me.
They're practically treating me like family.
I've got a key inside and everything.
Sabine gently grabbed onto my shoulder.
"It's okay. We've got Kanan and the others for that. Don't beat yourself up."
I smile.
"Thanks."
Sabine nodded, then her face fell back into a portrait of concern.
"Are you sure you're okay? Before I call them?"
…
I gather my nerves, then try to put them aside and nod to her.
"Yeah. Let's see what they think our next move should be." I say.
Without another word, Sabine moved to the holo and started typing.
…
…
"Safe Zone, this is Spectre 5 reporting in." Sabine said.
Quickly, the picture came into focus.
Kanan, Hera, Ahsoka, Lux, Zeb, Rex and Echo.
Huh.
"New security?" I ask Sabine.
"Since it's a bigger call, yeah." She told me.
"Hey Sabine. Ezra home yet?" Kanan smiled at her.
"Yup. Just got here." Sabine beamed back at him.
I rise to my feet and join Sabine.
"Hey."
"Hey Ezra. How are you?" Ahsoka askd me, smiling.
I shrug tiredly. "I'm okay."
Hera's eyebrows snap down.
"You don't sound okay."
"He said work didn't go well today." Sabine said.
"How so?" Rex asked kindly, looking at me.
"I…I'll just get into it." I say, then pull a bottle of water to me.
Everybody is focused on me.
"Last Wednesday, I had an undercover raid mission that I had to participate in to keep my cover. It went well, but at the end, I finally heard of 'Operation Remnant'." I begin.
"Yeah, that's what Zeb said." Kanan replied.
"I'm not seeing a problem. You're doing great." Lux said simply.
"Wait…he's getting there." Ahsoka turned to him.
"Go on." Hera told me.
"Well over the weekend, I came up with a plan to discreetly start to find out what 'Operation Remnant' even is. Because all I heard Friday was it's name. Just that." I say.
"Nothing to be learned really." Ahsoka says.
"The implication is that it is the remains of…something." Rex hypothesized.
"That's speculation." Echo replied curtly.
"I know."
"I take it the plan didn't work?" Kanan said, one eyebrow quirked.
Sabine let out a slight smile.
"No. But that wasn't the real issue. Apparently, I don't know if you guys know what we got briefed on initially here, but 'Operation Remnant' comes straight from the Emperor's desk. Every Empire Day." I say.
…
"Huh." Rex said.
"No, we didn't know that. Your mission is very classified. Nobody's asked too many questions." Lux told us.
"Anything else out of that briefing at first?" Echo asked.
Sabine shook her head.
"It was info on the Imperials mostly." She told him.
Echo nodded in consideration.
"But today, my plan was to cozy up to Brie, that's who it's assigned to, and gleam info that way. I got shut down hard." I explain.
"Hard?" Ahsoka asked.
"Well…basically she thought it was weird that I'd ask about it. It's from the Emperor, and it's something that's been ongoing. She said that she's not actually doing anything, but it's a thing that somebody higher up wants another pair of eyes to look at it."
…
"Sounds like…a building project. A long term one." Rex said.
"Like a Star Destroyer?" Ahsoka asked.
No, the Executor is already built.
"I'm hung up on the 'Remnant' part. There must be meaning in that." Rex replied.
"Again, that is a implication and blatant speculation." Echo told Rex.
"I know. But we're working thru this." Rex turned to him.
"I agree. There has to be something behind that word behind used." Sabine said.
"Did you see anything on it? Anything." Hera stressed to me.
"Nothing. She even shut her holo down so I couldn't see anything." I reply.
Kanan winced.
Yeah, that's bad.
"I don't think I'm going to be able to get anything out of her on it. I'm stuck." I confess.
I've failed.
"Okay. Don't be so down. You've done some really good work Ezra." Ahsoka said cheerfully.
"Yeah, you've integrated yourself to an entire Imperial office for over 2 months." Hera smiled. "Not just anyone can do that."
"Okay, so it looks like Ezra's stuck. Won't be able to do anything else on the ground." Kanan turned to the others.
"You said the information is on a holoterminal. Right Ezra?" Zeb asked.
I nod.
"Whatcha thinking?" Lux asked him.
"It's blunt, but get in and get the information of that holo. Then get out." Zeb replied.
"If she's just looking the information over, it might not be on there long." Rex added.
"How?" Kanan asked.
"A virus!" Sabine said snapping her fingers.
OOH!
I turn to her and see she's beaming.
"Great idea. You can put it on a data spike and get everything with 'Operation Remnant' on it," Echo said matter of factly.
I swivel around to look at him, and see that his brain is already two steps ahead.
"Ooh. I like that." Ahsoka smiled.
"I don't know if I can do that. I can get us in, but the search would be the hard part." Sabine confessed.
"We'll need to move fast. Like Rex said, I don't think this information will be available for long." Hera told Kanan.
"Okay. Let's sketch this out." Kanan said. "Ezra, can you get in at night?"
"Yeah." I nod.
"Great. You and Sabine can infiltrate, upload the data spike and get the information—" Kanan began, but was cut off.
"—Then we can pick you up, grab your stuff and get out of there." Rex said, turning to the others with a smile.
"That simple?" I ask.
"It doesn't have to be complicated." Ahsoka said. "The best plans prey on what is consistent."
"In this case, your access to the holo." Zeb added.
"You have the ability to get to that holo right?" Echo asked me.
"Yeah." I say.
"Sounds like a solid plan to me. The only question is when." Lux said.
…
…
"How about a week from today?" Rex asked.
What?
…
Oh no.
"Yeah. That'd give us a good window to get the information, while giving time to get an extraction team in position and for you all to gather up your belongings." Ahsoka said.
I have a week.
A week.
"I…" I begin, but then am gently cut off by Hera.
"Ezra…Sabine mentioned to us that you got a girlfriend…" Hera smiled at me.
Of course she did.
It's not like she was going to let that go without telling them.
"You gotta end it man." Lux said simply.
"Gently!" Ahsoka said. "We don't want this girl coming after us!"
I turn to Sabine, who looks slightly nervous.
"I mentioned that she was the leader of your team." She said quietly.
I nod.
I've been stupid.
All this time I thought I was playing it right.
And now I've got a week to…
Break up with Darcy.
My thoughts are brought back to the present by Hera saying my name.
"Ezra, I know you don't want to do it. I'm sure she's very nice and important to you. But this is more important. I'm sorry."
…
"Okay." I say, feeling hollow inside.
I look at the holo to see everybody eying me apprehensively.
I think they were expecting me to put up more of a fight.
I just feel numb.
"We'll comm you Sabine when we have a final plan Sabine." Kanan said calmly.
Sabine nodded, then the call ended.
I…
I slowly walk back to my room, grab my good jacket, then walk back into the hall and down the lift.
…
We're going to be at "Safe Zone" in a week.
I'm not going to sleep here next week.
I hail the first speeder I see and start off to Darcy's.
Darcy.
…
Oh man.
She's so excited for the ball.
That's at the end of the week.
She's shopping and everything.
She's going to hate me.
Darcy is definitely going to hate me.
I messed up.
I never should have gotten involved with her.
I…
WHAT WAS I THINKING?
She's pretty, and nice, and an amazing girl.
…
And I've got to break her heart.
In a week.
My mind flied back to how I woke up Saturday.
With a kiss, and three words.
"I love you."
…
…
Kiss on the neck.
"I love you."
…
…
"I love you."
She's going to want to kill me.
I groan and put my head in my hands as we start descending.
I'm an idiot.
She…
She's just on the wrong side.
That's all she's done wrong.
And she didn't really do that.
It's a job to her really.
Pays the bills. Keeps a roof over her head and food in the conservator.
…
I start up the lift, and a thought keeps bouncing around in my head.
All that time with Sabine, you said you weren't that guy.
And now I am.
I've got a week to break Darcy's heart.
And mine in the process.
She's…
I numbly walk to the door and try to put on a blank, happy face.
Even though I'm completely numb inside.
Halfway thru turning my key, the door swings open to Darcy smiling at me in a tank top and shorts.
"Hey."