Star Wars Rebels: The Journey Part 3 (Short Story)
One Year: Five Months
For Ezra it was not getting easier, no not with his three now Adoptive Children. It was getting harder not to convince the Neighbors slash Friends that he was not really interested in finding a Wife and Mother for his Children. For some unknown reason he was now a very sought after Man where several of the Single Residents of the Village seemed to find him to be just perfect to be a Husband. He was even having problems with the Single Mandalorian Female Law Enforcement Officers that came and went. There was only one Mandalorian that he wanted and he still could not let her know where he was. Pulling hard he hauled his Nets out of the Ocean Bay Water. It was heaping with Yellow Fins. The Fish Buyers would offer him a good amount for today's catch. Deciding to call it an early day since he had done so well, he piloted his twenty meter boat back towards the Village Docks and home.
At the Village Playgrounds. Aseena who was now 7, Mavisee and Corvin who just turned 8 played under the watchful projection eyes of C-19. While at the same time giving Cooking Recipes to four Mothers that were there with their own Children. Each of the Women wrote on their Data Pads listening carefully as C-19 explained the steps to make Mynock Stir fry with Spiced Vegetables. Spinning on a Triangular swing, Aseena giggled as did Mavisee and Gorvin. Though all three were looking forward to this Weekend when Ezra would teach them basic Lightsaber Techniques. Suddenly the Swing was stopped by a older Boy. Vordian Ost. He leaned down and smirked. "You know, my Uncle Molt thinks that it is strange that Raze Ridgers would want you Blue Girl, since you are not human. He told me he thinks Raze would be better off without you and perhaps it would be better if you went to be with your own kind." Vordian said with a small evil smile. "After all if the Empire was still here, you would probably be in an orphanage." Then with a sindistic laugh the older Boy walked over to his two Cronies who were laughing as well. Mavisee pouted and stared at the boy angrily, her bottom lip quivering and her siblings could feel her begin to do something to punish the older Boy.
"No, Mavi don't. Daddy said never do that in the open." Aseena said sternly and Mavisee closed her eyes and stopped. Aseena and Corvin exhaled with relief, though each of them wanted to do the same thing. Use the Force to punish Vordian Ost. Getting off the Swing, Aseena waited until her Brother and Sister did as well. Walking over to C-19 with Mavisee and Corvin behind her. "C-19 we want to go home." She said to the Droid and it stopped giving the Directions for another Dish.
"As I understand it Mistress Aseena you have another Hour of playtime. Is there a problem?" The Droid asked and Aseena swallowed tears began to form in her eyes and she shook her head.
"No, we just want to go home. I want to go home." Aseena said sadly and that drew the attention of a nearby Mandalorian Enforcement Officer. The Armored Woman walked over and knelt in front of the young Pantoran girl. Removing her helmet and shaking out her long brown hair.
"Is everything alright young lady?" The Woman asked and Aseena closed her eyes not wanting to say. Corvin spoke up.
"Vordian was mean and told her that our Daddy would be better off without her. That if the Empire was still here she would be in an orphanage. Whatever that is?" Corvin said and the Woman frowned. Then smiled.
"I doubt that. From what I have seen your Daddy loves you, so do not listen to that Dikut. Do you know what a Dikut is?" The Mandalorian Woman asked and Aseena smiled, nodding.
"Yes, Daddies friend sends messages that call him that all the time." Aseena said and the Woman laughed. Standing the Woman walked over towards Vordian and his comrades. Putting her helmet on.
"Listen Dikuts! I am Enforcement Officer Soria Wren and I am telling you to leave the younger ones alone or I will become extremely upset and if I become too upset. You three will find yourselves in my Holding Cells. That would really please your Parents wouldn't it?" Soria stated angrily. All three of them shook with fear, nodding. Knowing that their father's would probably beat them for getting into trouble with the Mandalorian Enforcement Officers. "Good now I believe that you all are too old to be in a Child's Play Area. So begone." She walked back towards the Three Children and their Protocol Droid. Taking off her Helmet again. "If any of them bother you again, you tell me okay." She told them and all three smiled. Then laughed when they saw someone approaching the Play Area.
"DADDY!" All three squealed and ran to hug Ezra. He laughed and hugged them back.
"I filled my boat and sold them already so I thought I would call it an early day." Ezra said to them and then saw the Mandalorian Enforcement Officers. "Okay what did you three do? Officer did they do something that I need to think about a punishment for. Like perhaps they decided to rob the Fruit Vendor?" The Woman laughed shaking her head watching as the Three Children scowled at the bad joke.
"No they are fine. They seemed to have some trouble with an older Boy, but I took care of it." The Mandalorian Officer said. "Soria Wren." She held out her right hand. "I have been posted her for the next year or so to gain experience. Like I will get any being posted in a Fishing Village." She rolled her eyes and Ezra had to chuckle as he shook her hand. He was internally panicking, he had met this Woman before back when he helped Sabine and her family fight the Imperials. Thankfully he did not look the same, now that he was spouting a short beard that covered his face perfectly. That and he had bulked up over the last year from being a Fisherman.
"Well it is a pleasure to meet you. I better get these three home and spend some time with them." Ezra said keeping himself calm. Herding the now excitable Children away with C-19 behind them. She stared at him for a moment and then exhaled. Soria could swear she met him before and she also knew if she did she would definitely remember. With a shrug she put her Helmet back on and finished her Patrol, knowing it would come to her sooner or later. To Ezra's relief Soria Wren was transferred three months later back to the Capital.
Lothal: Two Years Two Months
Laying on her bed at Ezra's Tower, well that was what it was now officially referred as. Sabine awoke and glanced over at the other side of the small bed, wishing Ezra was there and not just his Pillow. She had sprayed it long ago with a perservent so that his Aroma would always be there. The hinted smell of Loth Grass and Hyperdrive Coolant seemed to be embedded within the Fabric and she found it intoxicating. In truth she did not have to sleep alone, several young and older men had asked to join her. To be with her and she declined them all. There was only one Man that she wanted and his name was Ezra Bridger. Rising she went to the Small Kitchenette to get her Morning Caff, foregoing getting dressed until after she was fully awake. The Protocol Droid AC-7 stood off in one corner, turning on as she entered. "Good Morning Mistress Sabine. There has been another Message Transmitted. Do you wish for me to translate the Message?" Sabine nodded with a huge smile.
"Then save it with the other 42 Messages." Sabine ordered and sat, while AC-7 downloaded the Protocol Binary Code from her Message Box and changed the numbers into words.
"Cyar'ika. Miss and Love you." The Droid said and Sabine felt like crying. "Do you wish to reply?" AC-7 asked and Sabine exhaled with frustration.
"Yes I want to reply! I want to tell him I am tired of this! I want him here and not short untraceable messages that he misses me and loves me!" Sabine ranted and then inhaled deeply. "I know AC-7, five Feir'Feking words! Okay send this. WHERE ARE YOU EZ'IKA?" She roared with anger. Getting up she headed back to her room to cry in anguish.
Mandalore:
Receiving the Message, Ezra winced. He wanted to tell her, wanted to send a Message telling Sabine exactly where he was. But the Empire was still a threat and he could not risk Sabine, Aseena, Mavisee and Corvin lives along with his own. Not until the Empire was no longer obsessed with killing Jedi. He found it strange that unlike Luke Skywalker there were no Bounty Rewards for him. The Last ones were the ones from Lothal and those were now voided. Along with Sabine's, Hera's,, Zeb's and Kanan's. Though he knew why Kanan's was erased or voided. But his and the others should still be current. Then it dawned on him. "Thrawn had voided them." Ezra whispered glancing over at the three now 8 year old Aseena and the 9 year old Mavisee and Corvin. They were dueling with practice sticks that resembled Lightsabers. Each was showing remarkable improvement and he suspected that they would only continue to improve. After a moment, Mavisee stopped and walked over.
"Is something wrong Dad?" Mavisee asked and Ezra smiled. Shaking his head.
"No not really Mavi. It seems that Sabine is getting a little annoyed with me not telling her where I am." Ezra told her and Mavisee could not really understand but leaned closer and hugged him anyhow. "Thanks. Now you better get back to your lessons." He ordered and the girl bowed and went back to spar against her Brother and Sister. An hour later they returned back home to the Village. After sending the Girls to take a bath and for Corvin to wait until they were done. Ezra sat down at the table and comprised a message to be sent in response to Sabine's. He wanted to send. "MANDALORE. COME FIND ME." But he could not bring himself to do it. So instead he sent the truth through C-19. "WISH I COULD TELL YOU."
Lothal:
When Sabine received it she smiled, knowing earlier she was just feeling lonely and she also knew that if he could tell her he would. Sending back another Message that was what she truly wanted him to know. "I LOVE YOU,EZ'IKA." Then she crawled into bed and went to sleep to dream about Ezra again.
Mandalore: 4 Years 5 Months
Being Discovered
With the Emperor Gone and the Empire in retreat, Ezra found he just could not bring himself to contact Sabine. Though she continued to send messages calling him Ez'ika. He feared that perhaps they were not truly meant to be. That and how was he going to tell her that he was an Adoptive Father of three Children. So he debated with himself whether he should just send a real Communication to her and inform her that he was on Mandalore. So he decided to wait a little longer until he could bring himself to contact her.
Playing herd with a 10 Year old and two 11 Year olds, was not easy even with C-19's help. Especially trying to play herd while going to the Market in the Capital City. Ezra had made the mistake in commenting that all three of them needed new Clothes and that prompted them to beg him to take them to the Capital for that reason. Though Corvin actually could care less about new Clothes, he wanted a chance to fawn over the new Mach 5 Speeder Bikes that he had been reading about on the Holonet. "Okay first we need to do some Grocery Shopping. Then we will shop for some clothes for all of you." Ezra announced as the three children all smiled at him. Entering the long Market Area within the City the Children all beamed with delight. There were so many different types of Markets that they wanted to visit them all. Finding a Produce Merchant, Ezra began to select several different Vegetables that C-19 wanted. Aseena and Mavisee were at the next stand, looking at Ribbons and Berets. While Corvin with C-19 went to another to find the Droid a new Motivator Circuit for his left arm. Selecting some Buttery Greens, Ezra was bumped by a Mandalorian in full Armor as the other leaned onto the Stand heavily. Ezra noticed the Markings that indicated he was from the Wolf Clan.
"This stuff is all rotten." The Mandalorian stated with a sneer. "How can you sell this crap to anyone. Though I suspect no self respecting Mandalorian would ever by this shit." Ezra could tell that the Man was more of a boy who was trying to sound older. The Vendor immediately responded.
"I do not see any Rotten Produce Sir." The Old Man who was the Vendor said in response and the Mandalorian scoffed. Grabbing a handful of Long Stem Plants and held them up.
"Look at these! All rotten!" The Mandalorian brandished them before the Vendor's eyes and then pushed them in the Old Man's face. Two other Mandalorians began to laugh at their comrade. The first one glanced behind his companions at some Females that watched with horror. Believing that the Women were impressed with the display. Returning his attention to the Vendor, he placed both hands under the Stand intending to upend it. Ezra decided he had enough, with his hand lowered he minimally used the Force. Holding the Stand Table down. With a sneering laugh, the Mandalorian pulled upwards and then frowned. The Table did not budge at all. Heaving harder it still did not move. It seemed to be rooted to the Ground. Straining he applied all his strength and still it would not move. After another second Ezra picked up a handful of Orange Colored Spice Roots.
"If you are done being a Dikut. I would like to know how much are the Spiced Roots per pound?" Ezra said and the Mandalorian glared over at him. The Vendor immediately said one third Credit per pound. "I will take four Pounds then." Handing the Vendor two Credits he continued to hold down the table with the Force as the Mandalorian still strained to up end it. Stepping back Ezra shook his head. "You know I think it interesting. I always heard a Mandalorian was honorable. But here I find out that is not true of those in the Wolf Clan. Well you learn something new everyday." He said it loud enough that everyone that was watching overheard him. Including several Armored Mandalorians, who stiffened. The one he just insulted roared with rage.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY SCUM? ARE YOU IMPLYING I HAVE NO HONOR?" The man bellowed and Ezra could not help but laugh, loudly.
"Oh so some Mandalorian's from the Wolf Clan are also stupid. That is something else I learned today." Ezra heard several people also laugh and the Mandalorian he again insulted ripped his helmet off and Ezra had been right. The supposed Man was no more then a Teenager, perhaps 16 or 17 years old. Glancing over at Aseena, Mavisee and Corvin. Ezra smiled reassuringly. Subtly telling them it was alright. He then felt rather then saw the Boy charge towards him. "Time to teach this boy a lesson in humility." Ezra thought as he blocked a blow with his left arm, while still holding his bags with his right. After stopping the wild punch, he reared back and slammed the Boy in the Armored stomach with the same left hand hard enough to knock the air and arrogance out of him. Bowling the boy over. Gasping for breath the Boy screamed over to his friends.
"Get him!" He said wheezing and his two comrades started to advance on the one that had just dared to strike a Mandalorian Warrior. Handing the Bags to C-19, Ezra turned towards them.
"Please don't Daddy." Aseena said in a pleading tone. Knowing that this could get their Father in deep trouble. Then remembered what he told them several times. "If you can without divulging that you are a Jedi. You need to help others that need it." The fight with the two others lasted about ten seconds and both now were moaning on the ground. The Boy staggered to his feet and reached down to his holstered blaster, ready and willing to kill the one that had sullied his honor. Then a strong larger hand grabbed his hand that was pulling at his Blaster.
"Try to show that you have some Honor, Wolf Clan!" A stern Man's voice growled and the Boy looked up at a larger Mandalorian Warrior from Clan Kryze. "That citizen is right. You were showing that you have no honor." The Man took off his helmet and bowed his head towards Ezra. Though he was also intrigued. Not many could fight against a Trained Mandalorian warrior, especially in hand to hand combat. Off to one side another watched the encounter with the same interest. She was about to intervene after seeing who it was. She had met the young man years ago in the Fishing Village that she had been sent to for experience. Concentrating, Soria Wren noticed that the fighting moves that the Non-Mandalorian Raze Ridgers had used were vaguely familiar. Snapping her fingers she had it. That was her first cousins favorite Combat style. It all came together as she gasped.
"By the Ancestors I am such a Dikut." Soria whispered then smiled. "Raze Ridgers. Duh. Ezra Bridger." With that she stepped over towards Ezra and the Children. "Citizen do not move, you are under arrest." She declared and the Kryze Clan Member stepped closer.
"Excuse me Officer. But that young Man was only defending himself. I am sure if these three Dikut's wish to press charges, I and my fellow Honorable Mandalorian's will testify that." The Large Man said and several others stepped forward. Soria shook her head.
"I am not arresting him for that. This is Ezra Bridger and my Cousin Sabine Wren wishes to see him again." Soria announced and then looked down at the Three Children. "It is alright Aseena, Marvisee, Corvin. He is not really in too much trouble, other then pissing my first cousin off." She said with a smile and the three children smiled. "Now come with me Ezra." She ordered and gestured for the children and Droid to follow.
"You are not really going to contact her are you?" Ezra asked in route to the Law Enforcement Building a street away. Soria smirked and nodded.
"Of course I am. Do you know how much my Cousin has pestered my Countess, my Aunt Ursa about finding you and here you have been the whole time. Actually I almost pity you. Sabine is going to be extremely angry upon learning where you have been all this time." Soria said and then winked at the three Children. "Of course from what I remember Ezra, you could use the Force and free yourself easily. I suspect that these three Children are also..."
"We are Jedi Pattawans." Corvin announced proudly and Ezra chuckled. He had always worried that one of the Children would accidentally divulge who and what they were and here Ezra screwed up. He knew he should not have used the hand to hand techniques Sabine had taught him years ago. But it was automatic, his reflexes took over and he hoped none of the Mandalorians would have identified those techniques. At the Building, Soria had Ezra sit down with the Three Children right next to him. The Droid stood off in one corner. While she transmitted on the Holonet to Sabine on Lothal.
Lothal:
Standing Sabine glared down at the Monitor Screen, rage inflamed within her. "ARE YOU FEIR'FEKING KIDDING ME COUSIN!" She screamed angrily. "ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT HE HAS BEEN ON MANDALORE FOR THE LAST FOUR AND ALMOST A HALF YEARS!" She roared and when Soria turned the Monitor around Sabine saw Ezra sitting idly in one of the chairs surrounded by three Children. One Pantoran and two human. "I am going to kill him." She said with a small smile. "Keep him right there, I will be there within ten hours." Switching off the monitor she contacted the closest friend that had a fast Ship. Which turned out to be Ashoka Tano.
In less then an hour and after Sabine went to the Tower to put on a clean Body Suit and Armor, she was aboard Ashoka's Ship heading to Mandalore and the Capital City. She kept muttering that she was going to kill him and Ashoka had to laugh. 'You are not really are you?" Ashoka asked and Sabine smiled laughing.
"No but he will wish I did." Sabine declare firmly. She was not really angry about him not coming home, what really pushed her over the edge was that he had been on Mandalore the whole time. She herself had gone home on several different occasions and even pestered her Mother to send out hunters to locate him. Not knowing that all she had to do was search Mandalore and there he was. As she slowly calmed down, Sabine suddenly asked most herself. "Who were those Children with him?" She muttered.
Mandalore: Capital City
Squirming slightly in the hard chair, Ezra felt anxious and a little afraid. Sabine was on her way and from what he heard, she was extremely pissed off. "Dad is she going to really hurt you?" Aseena asked with some concern, Marisee and Corvin also looked at him with the same concern. Ezra shook his head.
"No I do not think so. When she gets here, she is going to be a little upset." Ezra told them.
"She is not going to take you away from us is she, Daddy?" Mavisee asked her bottom lip quivering and Ezra took the girls hand, shaking his head.
"Not going to happen Mavi. Trust me once she gets to know you, she is going to love you. All of you." Ezra told her and then looked at Aseena and Corvin. When someone else entered and then another Man, Ezra looked towards them and recognized them both. "Triston, Fenn Rau? What are you two doing here?" He asked and Sabine's Brother chuckled. As did Rau.
"Sabine contacted us and asked that we come here with a couple of others to make sure you do not sneak off." Triston clasped Ezra's hand and shook it. "My Mother will be here soon as well and she is not exactly pleased with you as well." Fenn Rau stepped forwards and shook Ezra's hand as well.
You have really pissed her off. I would hate to be in your boots when she gets here." Fenn Rau announced with a smile. Thinking it funny that his own Wife Bo Katan had sent him along with a half dozen Ultra Protectors to ensure that Ezra remains where he was until Sabine arrived.
"I did not realize I have a knack of pissing off Wren Women so badly." Ezra laughed and the new arrivals did as well.
'That is a knack that could prove fatal, my friend. Oh and you also pissed off the Duchess and Ruler of Mandalore." Fenn Rau stated then looked at the three Children. 'So who are these Children that seem a little nervous. Do not be afraid, I am an old friend of Ezra's and so is Triston." The older man said with a small smile.
"Daddy never mentioned either of you." Aseena said and both Triston and Fenn Rau looked at each other then at Ezra.
"Daddy? Oh this is a story that I would love to hear." Triston sat down as did Fenn Rau, both wanted to hear this. Ezra put up his hand.
"I think I will wait to tell it until Sabine and your Mother arrive. It is a long story filled with some tragedy at first." Ezra told them then looked sadly at the three Children. Not really wanting to remind the three of what happened years ago, but all three had endured and even though it was unpleasant they could handle it. "Until then, this is Aseena, that is Mavisee and that is Corvin. Meet Triston Wren and Fenn Rau." The two men shook the Children's hand and after a moment, then Triston and Fenn Rau began to tell the Children all about when they first met Ezra Bridger. Not leaving out any details.
To be Concluded