Thanks to V, Eznf98, aslanbrooke and DarthEzra for the feedback!
V: Here's the thing, and I'm going to try and be as vague as possible. How do you know only one story is going on here? Try and figure that one out!
Not too much to say here, we're getting to the good parts though... Well, good for me...
Enjoy!
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Sabine glanced carefully at the cockpit and turned back to Cal. "She's pushing herself too far."
Cal sighed. "She's filled with anger. Anger at the Empire for taking Jacen. And anger at us, for keeping her in the dark."
"Yeah." Sabine looked out the viewport at the endless rain. "How's he doing?"
Cal was silent for a few minutes. "I don't know." He admitted. At Sabine's look, he continued. "He's shielding me from his Force Signature. He's blocked Anakin too."
"Great."
Cal regarded her. "Was he like this after Hoth?"
Sabine's jaw tightened as she spied Anakin headed towards the building Ezra was meditating in, but relaxed after a moment. "Yeah." She looked away. "He blocked all of us off. Took weeks for him to finally open up."
Cal nodded. "I hate to sound callous, but this is far worse that Hoth." He backed a step as Sabine's eyes narrowed. "What Revan did...he nearly shattered Ezra. I don't know if he'll ever fully recover."
. . . . . . . . . .
Ezra leaned against the wall as he looked at Hera. "According to ISB Agent Gideon, Caleb and Jacen were taken together. I can't sense them, but if they are with the Emperor, that makes sense." Shifting further down the wall in an attempt to remain up for this conversation, he glanced at Rex. "Contact Hondo; let's see if he knows anything."
Do you really believe this will change anything?
Ezra closed his eyes, silent for a moment. "A-Anakin. While we were on Exegol, someone came after Sabine, looking for you."
Anakin frowned, glancing at Ahsoka. "A former Jedi?"
She nodded. "Wearing Mandalorian armour. Claims Vader killed his Master."
Anakin sighed. "It's possible." He admitted. "If he's Mandalorian, then he'll find us eventually." He glanced at Sabine. "Do we have a comm frequency?"
She shook her head. "No. He didn't identify himself beyond being a Padawan during the Clone War."
Strength ebbing, Ezra collapsed onto the bed. "We have to find him before he finds us."
As the others left, Sabine sat down, touching his forearm. "You okay?"
Ezra nodded, then shook his head. "I don't know." He amended. "Something's off."
Sabine pursed her lips. "From what Anakin tells me, you'll be out of balance until the darkness is purged from your mind." She shrugged. "No idea what that means."
"I do." Ezra sighed. "I have some meditation to do."
. . . . . . . . . .
Let me out!
Anakin watched as Ezra shook his head. "Shut up." He muttered.
He stood. "Everything okay, Kid?"
For a moment, it looked like Ezra was going to share, but the wall that Anakin was becoming increasingly familiar with settled over him. "Fine."
Resisting the urge to sigh, he knelt beside Ezra's bed. "You don't have to go through this alone."
Anakin drew back a step as Ezra gave a low, mocking chuckle. "Advice from a previous life, Chosen One?"
"Ezra?"
The kid's head drooped, and he sighed. "Sorry. That was..." He shook his head. "Sorry."
"What did Revan do to you?"
The words were out of Anakin's mouth before he could stop them, and based on Ezra's reaction, he wished he could. The kid drew back, eyes narrowing. "Sorry."
A somewhat awkward silence followed, and Anakin was almost relived by his comm. "Anakin."It was Cal. "We could use your help in the Ghost."
Anakin glanced at Ezra, who waved him off. "Be there soon."
. . . . . . . . . .
Ezra smiled as Rex settled in the seat Sabine had just vacated. "What is it?"
The Captain sighed. "Echo reported that a ship entered the atmosphere. It could be our Mandalorian warrior."
Ezra gritted his teeth and struggled to stand. "We have to leave."
"Commander." Rex put a hand on his shoulder. "You're in no position to go anywhere. We're attempting to hail the ship now; I'll keep you updated."
"Captain." Fear gripped Ezra; more fear than he had ever known. His friends were in danger, and he couldn't do anything about it. "As your Commanding Officer, I am ordering you to begin packing up the Ghost and Mantis. Scuttle the Base!"
Rex shook his head. "Experience outranks everything. Truth is, this is our best defendable position. We can hold it."
Everything you have will crumble.
Ezra pressed his palm into his head, ignoring the fact that Rex was staring at him. "Shut up." He murmured. "Get out of my head."
Nothing lasts forever.
That bothered him more, because it was something Kanan used to say. After Malachor, especially. Bad enough that his memory of Revan was taunting him. Worse that he was using Kanan's teachings, twisting them.
. . . . . . . . . .
Anakin frowned as he joined Cal and Sabine at the viewport. "What is it?"
Sabine turned to him. "How's Ezra?"
His frown grew. That question was asked of him several times a day, but this time seemed different. As if Sabine was trying to prove something. "About the same as he always is."
Cal joined in. "So, resistant to letting anyone else help?"
"Yeah, but," he looked at Sabine, "that's not unusual, is it?"
She sighed. "Last time something like this happened, he let me in after a while. But now, he's shutting everyone out."
"Well, he was possessed by an ancient Sith spirit." Anakin looked out at the falling rain. "He likely doesn't want to share that experience with anyone, especially the people closest to him."
Sabine glanced at the cockpit. "I hope that's all it is."
. . . . . . . . . . .
Rex left to check with ARC Trooper Echo, and Ezra smiled as Sabine returned. "Hey."
She smiled back as she sat down. "How are you doing?"
His smile faltered. "Good. Just, ready to get moving again."
Sabine leant forward, hand on his arm. "It's only been four days. Frankly, I'm impressed you're sitting up."
Ezra leant back so his head was against the wall. "Anakin said to take it slow. I just wish slow meant a little faster." He shook his head. "Not a fan of being cooped up here."
Sabine nodded. "Maybe, when this is over," she shifted closer, "we should take another vacation."
Ezra smiled softly. "Go exploring, maybe. Find worlds the Empire hasn't touched."
It will never be over. Do you not see?
Sabine narrowed her eyes as he stiffened. "Ez?"
Wincing, Ezra looked at her. "S-Sorry." Shaking his head softly, Ezra leant back into his pillow. "I-I think I'm going to try and get some sleep."
"Okay." Standing, Sabine pressed a light kiss into his head. They didn't often express their feelings publicly like that; neither felt comfortable with it. But every so often, they would surprise the other.
Given the small wiggle, he felt it.
. . . . . . . . . .
Sabine found Anakin and Cal right where she expected to: Outside in the rain, sparring. Clearing her throat, she smiled as Cal Force-Pushed Anakin off the platform, then turned to her. "Yes?"
Sabine handed him a data-pad. "Some new information came in about our Mandalorian Friend."
Cal accepted it and began reading. After a moment, he looked up at her. "He's an enemy of the Empire?"
She nodded. "One of the Rebellion's members contacted me. Says he heard that a Mandalorian destroyed a Imperial Factory."
Cal handed her back the data-pad and scratched his beard. "Who is this guy?"
. . . . . . . . . .
Ezra was talking to Rex when the comm beeped. Glancing at Rex, who shifted forward, he picked up the comlink. As much as he could, Ezra leant forward, eyes on the comm. "Hello?"
"This is Commander Ezra Bridger?"
Glancing at Rex, he responded. "It is. Who is this?"
"My name is inconsequential." The Mandalore-accented voice paused. "Tell Vader I'm coming for him."
Ezra narrowed his eyes. "Darth Vader is dead. Anakin Skywalker killed him."
There was a short, biting laugh. "From what I hear, the two are more similar than you think."
Ezra glanced at Rex, who was busy recording on a data-pad. "What I think? You tried to kill Sabine. How are you any better than Vader?"
"If I wanted Wren dead, she would be." The voice almost sounded offended. "Despite the error of shielding Vader, your team, Commander Bridger, is all that stands against the Empire. So you shall remain."
Ezra frowned. "So you don't work for the Empire then." His frown grew. "Why contact me?"
The Mandalorian laughed. "Because the game is always more fun when you know what is coming." He grew serious. "I'll be seeing you soon, Commander."
The comlink grew silent, and Ezra looked at Rex, who set the data-pad down. "Get everyone ready to fight." He struggled to sit up, then rested his head against the wall. "He's here."
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Chapter Notes!
I). Maybe it's because I wrote it, but something feels off about the past two chapters. Hmmm...
II). So, the Mandalorian is someone I've been excited to introduce for a while (Full thanks goes to ComparedDread12 for the character) and we will be seeing a lot more of him in the future!
Thanks for reading!
Judge