Star Wars and Star Wars Rebels: Hard Choices (Short Story) Part 1
The Second Purge:
There was not much of a choice for Ezra Bridger. After returning from the Unknown Regions ten years ago. He never suspected that the Fall of the Empire would give birth to something worse. The First Order. He also never suspected that the Jedi Order that Luke Skywalker had formed would fall mostly due to Luke's own Nephew. Not that he became a part of the new Jedi Order, deciding to mostly journey on his own Path. Now he was out of options for where he could go. The First Order was after him, because he was a Jedi Master. There was him and then there was his Apprentice, who happens to be a Jedi Knight. Both Mortal Enemies to First Order's Supreme Leader. "I believe we only have one option left Ezra." Hera Syndulla said from the Cockpit of her Ship. The Ghost. After several hours of searching through the Information Network for a possible safe place to go.
"You have to be kidding right. I doubt she would be exactly pleased to see me again. You and Jacen sure. But me. She is most likely want to shoot first and then shoot again." Ezra said then let out a long sigh. "You are right though, we don't really have any other options." He swallowed heavily and gazed out the front Cockpit Viewport. Not looking forward to his reunion with Sabine. The Countess of the Wren Clan.
"You do realize it is your fault that Sabine is pissed at you. Right?" Hera commented and Ezra nodded. Then hung his head.
"Yes it is and if she does not shoot, she is more then likely going to want to kick my ass." Ezra replied and Jacen decided he wanted to know the details.
"Why would Aunt Sabine be pissed at you Master?" Jacen asked not knowing the reason and his Mother chuckled. While Ezra groaned.
"Well it would seem that your Master decided to leave Sabine basically at the Alter. Taking off from Knownest right on the day they were supposed to say the Vows of Marriage almost ten years ago." Hera said still chuckling at that memory and really looking forward to seeing Sabine again.
Reunion:
Glaring down at the one that had brought the bad news, Sabine Wren gripped the side of her Throne tightly. The one elected to bring the news stood nervously, fidgeting from one foot to another. "Repeat that!" She growled and her fellow Clan Member swallowed heavily. Wanting nothing more then to run back to the Communications Room. Where his Fellows were basically hiding from their Countess.
"Milady...there is a request from Hera Syndulla and...and Ezra Bridger...to land." The Man said cowering slightly within his Armor. It had become a well known fact that no one was to say the latter name openly. Not unless you wanted to be on the receiving end of Sabine's anger. She continued to glare down at him and then to the others within the room. Even her Brother who was visiting from the his Home at the Wolf Clan seemed to not want to catch her eye.
"Oh so he wants to land, does he?" Sabine asked angrily. Though she felt her heart pounding heavily in her chest. In truth she wanted to see him so badly again that it made her knees shake. "Let him and have a guard detail then throw him...into a Holding...no bring him to my Sitting Room. As for Hera Syndulla and her Son...treat them as honored Guests." She ordered then stood and stomped out of the room. The Man that had brought the news slumped within his Armor, then made a hasty retreat back to his post. Off to one side, Tristain smirked.
"She still loves him." Tristain whispered then decided to at least go warn the Jedi. He owed him that much. Though he too wanted to hit the other Man for breaking his sister's heart so badly that she never even considered taking someone else as her Life Mate. He had with the first Daughter of Count Wolf and he could not be happier. Walking out to the Landing Field, he noticed a half dozen Armored Men and Women waiting for the Ship to arrive. All ready to follow their Countesses orders to the letter.
Upon landing, Ezra could easily see the half dozen Mandalorian Armored Warriors waiting for he would guess him. He expected that he probably would soon find himself in the most uncomfortable holding cell that they had. Then after a few hours, Sabine would come and probably beat him into a bloody pulp. He just hoped that she would hold her temper long enough so he could explain the reasons he had to leave. He doubted it. But he still hoped. Stepping down the Ramp, he smiled as he recognized one of the Mandalorians that were waiting for him. "Greetings Ezra Bridger." Tristain said and approached him.
"Greetings Tristain Wren." Ezra said back, bowing slightly as the other stepped closer. "So how have you been?" He asked and Tristain smiled.
"You do realize you are in some serious trouble. My Sister is still quite upset about you leaving her." Tristain stated then chuckled. "By the way, hand it over." He told him holding out his hand towards the Jedi and Ezra unhooked his Lightsaber, then handed it to him. "She is waiting for you inside. Let me warn you. She may decided to hit you first before anything else and in my opinion you deserve to be hit."
"Yeah I guess I do deserve it." Ezra began to walk towards the Wren Family Home under escort from the Six other Mandalorians. Standing outside a door, one of his escorts knocked and then after a moment opened the door. Stepping inside, he saw Sabine standing with her arms crossed in front of her chest. "She looks just like she did ten years ago." He whispered admiring how beautiful she still was. Her expression was hard though almost rigid. But when he looked into her eyes he saw the same softness and to his delight the same love that he had seen in them also ten years ago. She stepped closer and continued to outwardly scowl at him.
"You have a lot of nerve." Sabine declared standing now right in front of him. "Coming back here after what you did to me!" She inhaled sharply and then he noticed the blow before it even hit him. Letting it hit him. Slapping him hard across the left side of his face. "I hate you Ezra Bridger! I hate you!" She growled slapping him twice more. He tasted blood in his mouth. Striking him with closed fists down onto his chest, but not really hard. "I despise you! I hate you!" She struck him with her left first and then her right upon each statement. Putting his arms around her, she partially struggled but stayed where she was. Tilting his head slightly, he leaned forward and kissed her. Parting he smiled.
"Sabine...I'm sorry I left you." Ezra whispered and she started to breath hard, scowling even more at him.
"I hate you! I hate you!" Sabine said though her voice did not have the same tone. He kissed her again and she once more kissed him back. "Stop. Don't...I need to hate you." She whispered unconvincingly and he kissed her again. This time she moved her own arms around him and pulled him tightly to her. After several moments she reached around to unhook his Cloak. Then unbuttoned his shirt. "Ezra...please...I...I need you...it has been too long." She said as she drew him towards the Two Seat Couch that sat behind her. As he unzipped her body suit. Clothes and Armor were then removed and dropped onto the floor where they fell. In the midst of the first moment she found herself missing this. It had been over ten years since the last time, she did not want it to end. She could tell it had been just as long for him and that made her feel relieved. She at times laid in bed fearing that Ezra would be with another. Love another and even if he had returned, his feelings for her would not be the same. As they made love, she knew those feelings remained and perhaps were stronger.
Several hours later Sabine and Ezra sat on the floor with their backs against the Couch. She had her arms around his waist as she pressed her head against his chest. While he had his right arm drooped over her shoulders. Both were breathing hard from what they had just finished doing. "I deserve answers Ezra." Sabine said and Ezra inhaled softly.
"Yes you do. I guess I should have said something long before now." Ezra said to her and Sabine looked up at him.
"I want to know is why you left me? You told me so many times you loved me and then on the day we were to say the Vows...you just left." Sabine frowned at him and he could see small tears form in her eyes.
"I had to Sabine. I had to leave. I need you to believe that I wanted to Marry you. That if it was not for what I discovered, I would have stayed and Married you." Ezra said then closed his eyes and he too felt tears begin to form in his eyes.
"What was it Ezra? What was it that you discovered that made you just leave without saying a word?" Sabine asked needing to know.
"I had discovered that the First Order had subtly influenced the Mandalorian Purists. I also discovered that the Purists planned on disposing you and killing you if you...well Married me." Ezra said and Sabine frowned. He could almost guess what she was going to say. "I found out that there were several of your own Clan that were so adamant that you not take a Non-Mandalorian...a Jedi as your Husband. That they were planning on assassinating you. I could not let that happen."
"Who are they?" Sabine asked and Ezra inhaled sharply. Then named them off. It was not a large number, only about seven of them and she knew each of them. "Feir'feking cowards!" She growled angrily. She slowly calmed down. "Okay I can understand now why you left, though I do not agree with the reason. If you had told me, then we could have prepared for it." He shook his head.
"No. Sabine you just became Countess. Your position was not that stable even with your Parents blessing and support. You taking a Jedi as a Husband would be a complete disaster to you and your Clan. The sentiment those in your Clan was shared by at least two other Clans. Ones that were so against it, I learned that they planned on attacking you and your Clan. I just could not let that happen. So I decided to leave." Ezra said and she slowly nodded. What he said was true. She did not have overwhelming support when her Mother passed Leadership onto her. In fact a quarter of her Clan opposed it and some even spoke out loudly when she announced she was taking Ezra Bridger as her Husband. Though she had made her choice and was willing to face those challenges as long as she had Ezra. "I have to ask...why didn't you...there had to be other suitors." She shook her head.
"None worth my interest and yes there were others that sought my hand. But they all had one major flaw." Sabine leaned closer and smiled. "They were not you." She whispered and kissed him. Initiating another round.
0000
In the Dinning Room, Hera checked her Chrono and her Lekku twitched nervously. "Do you think Aunt Sabine killed him? Or is she just torturing him." Jacen asked and glanced once more down at his waist. It felt odd to him not having his Lightsaber on his belt. Tristain had taken it as soon as they had stepped down the Ramp.
"No I do not believe that is what she and Ezra are doing." Hera said taking another drink of Spiced Mandalorian Rum. Tristain sat across from them with a wry little smile crested on his lips. She suspected like her that he knew what Sabine and Ezra were doing.
"I believe that no one will object if they decide to take the Vows." Tristain said still smiling. He had ten years ago advised Sabine that it might not be prudent yet. The Anti-Jedi sentiment was too rampant within the Clan. Now was different. Sabine was the Countess and none opposed her. She had firmly taken leadership and her word was law. If she decided to take Ezra as her Husband, no one within the Clan would utter a word.
"That might lead to an even bigger problem then last time. The First Order is after Ezra and Jacen." Hera said and Tristain smiled reassuringly.
"I am sure you do not have to worry about the First Order. Well not while you are in the Mandalorian System that is. We have not sat back like most Systems or the Newly Formed Republic. Remember we are Warriors and we will not be conquered again." Tristain told them and then leaned closer to let them in on a secret. "We have amassed a large fleet in the last ten years." Hera also leaned closer.
"How large are you talking about? Because the First Order does have an impressive Fleet themselves." Hera asked with interest and Tristain chuckled.
"Let us just say that if the First Order wants to start a War with us...we are more then ready." Tristain was not about to let them in on Top Secret information. In fact Duchess Bo-Katan was eager to prove to the First Order it would be a mistake to attack Mandalore.
"I did not detect any Ships with my Sensors when I entered the System." Hera commented and Tristain smiled again.
"You wouldn't. But those Ships are out there. Concealed and waiting for any threat to pounce upon." Tristain then leaned back. "If my Sister wants to take Ezra this time, there is nothing that will stop her."
000
"You are staying Ezra. I am not about to lose you again. I already gave orders that you will be remaining here as my...well guest." Sabine stated cuddling against him. She was not going to let him leave this time or ever again.
"The First Order is after me. I do not think it would be a good idea or safe for me to remain that long." Ezra said with concern and Sabine shook her head.
"Don't worry about that. I am about to tell you something that only a few know about." Sabine smiled and leaned closer to his right ear. "In the last ten years and a few years before that. We have amassed a Fleet of Ships. Most of them are Imperial Star Destroyers along with a several dozen other type of Capital Ships. From Corvette Cruisers to Nebula Class Attack Frigates." She whispered to him and he looked over at her in shock.
"How did you get any Star Destroyers? I thought most of them took off for the Unknown Regions and Thrawn after the last battle at Jakku." Ezra asked and Sabine smiled.
"They did. Though seventeen came here and we offered the Captains and Crews Sanctuary. As long as they agreed to become part of our Defense Fleet." Sabine told him still whispering. "Most of them are living on the Moon called Talibak." Ezra knew of that Moon within the Mandalorian System. When they first brought Sabine back with the Darksaber years ago, they had landed there to rest for half a day and come up with a contingency plans. The Moon was a lot like Lothal. A perfect Farming Planet that no Clans currently occupied. Due to that there was really nothing there. Other then a lot of Farm Land.
"I have heard a lot of Systems did the same thing. Offering Sanctuary instead of capture, a short trial and a speedy execution that happened when some of them surrendered to the Alliance." Ezra said as he thought back to actually coming across one such incident. An Imperial Ship Captain surrendered to an Alliance Commander only to be taken prisoner then within a few hours the Captain and his Crew were summarily executed. He had tried to intervene as did Hera who was a General at that time. But they both were ignored and were forced to leave. Sabine noticed his expression.
"Those Trials. I protested against them. As did Bo-Katan since most of them were nothing more then miscarriage of Justice against the Imperials." Sabine said thinking back to seeing some of the Holo Transmitted Trails, Sentencings and then Executions. Most of them were all conducted under the span of an hour. "So when a few of the Imperials came here, Bo-Katan offered them protection and sanctuary." Ezra shook his head.
"And Mon Mothma wondered why I did not join Luke back then and reform the Jedi Order. That was one of the reasons. Another was...well Luke...I just got this feeling that he was not acting normal. I felt it through the Force that he...he seemed distant from his friends and family." Ezra told her and Sabine had wondered at the time. Why Ezra and Ashoka had not joined the Order. "I first believed it had to do with what happened to him on the Second Death Star. But it was something else." He actually had no idea what it was. It was just a feeling he had and as a Jedi he had to trust those feelings.
"I wish you would have told me that back then. Did you know that Mon Mothma and even Leia Organo Solo believed I was the reason you turned Luke down?" Sabine stated with a small frown. Even though Mandalore had not joined the Alliance or the Reformed Republic. It did not stop Mon Mothma, Leia and even Luke from contacting her about why Ezra had declined. They all suspected she was the reason.
"Yeah I know. Sorry about that." Ezra smiled at her and Sabine could tell that he really wasn't. So she slugged him in the shoulder.
"No you are not! I get the feeling that you threw me to the Rancor or under the Speeder Bus. You let them think that I was the reason." Sabine declared glaring at Ezra in frustration. Almost daring him to deny it.
"Sorry. I needed something or rather someone to use as an excuse, other then those reasons I just told you and you sort of fit the bill nicely." Ezra said not about to deny it. Sabine scowled at him and then punched him again in the same shoulder.
"Do you realize how much Flak I took over that? I mean I was getting daily Comm's from one of them for almost a year." Sabine then smiled. "Though it did help with those discontents that did not relish the idea with me wanting to take a Jedi as my Husband after you bailed on me. So some good did come from that." She had to admit it. Those that had protested against her decision, soon backed her when she had to deal with not only the President of the Republic. But also a Councilwoman and a Jedi. Which she was not exactly polite to any of them. They continued to talk for another couple of hours and then slowly they drifted off to sleep, holding each other.
0000
Awakening feeling stiff and a bit sore, Sabine stretched and then noticed that Ezra had left. What she found endearing, was he had lifted her somehow and placed her laying down on the couch without wakening her. She smiled as she put on her Bodysuit and then robe. She left the small room to look for him and within a few moments found him outside. He and Jacen were training and as she watched them duel with their Lightsabers. She soon discovered that he had vastly improved from when she had watched him train before with Kanan. "I returned their Lightsabers to them." Tristian said as he stepped next to her, also watching the two Jedi train.
"That is fine. Ezra has gotten a whole lot better." Sabine said as she peered down from the Balcony. She subtly glanced about and noticed that there were others from her Clan watching the two Jedi. As she watched she suddenly saw a familiar style that both were employing. It was that of Ashoka Tano. She had meant to ask him about Ashoka last night and why the Togruta was not with them. So she would make a mental reminder to ask the next time they talked. Twenty three minutes later, Jacen went for a run and she had Ezra meet her in the Kitchen for Brunch. There she asked him about Ashoka. Ezra closed his eyes and lowered his gaze down onto the table that they sat at.
"She...Ashoka...is with the Force. Seven years ago she left to follow a rumor that she had heard about. I offered to go with her...but she would not let me." Ezra told her sadly.
"What rumor?" Sabine asked and Ezra looked over at her.
"When I was in the Unknown Regions...there were Rumors going around that the Emperor was hiding there and he was alive. So she decided to find out if it was true. Six months after she left...I felt her pass into the Force." Ezra sighed heavily. "I was tempted to investigate myself. But Hera convinced me not to since I was still training Jacen. I am still tempted, still Hera thinks it is a bad idea." Sabine shook her head vehemently.
"I agree with Hera. Whatever or whoever defeated Ashoka has to be...dangerous. Do you think it could be the Emperor and that he is still alive?" Sabine asked and Ezra shrugged.
"It is one of those unknowns. No one knows everything about the Force. Or about what powers the Dark Side has. So it could be one of those it is better to assume he is rather then assume he isn't." Ezra replied and Sabine shook her head again. Deciding to lighten the mood a little.
"What did you do with my Ezra? Because the Ezra I used to know would have gone charging off without hesitation no matter how dangerous it was. Not worrying about the consequences until after." Sabine asked with a small smile and finally he smiled as well.
"I think Kanan got his revenge. Jacen tends to be a lot reckless. A lot like I used to be. I had to change a lot to be his Master and teach him right. Though he still will rush in without thinking first." Ezra said and gave her hand that he somehow found himself holding a gentle squeeze. She squeezed back and chuckled.
"Reminds me of you." Sabine said and inhaled softly. "Okay...I think it best that you do not tell anyone else that you think that the Emperor is still alive. Mainly since you do not actually have any proof. If it is suggested that he is alive by a Jedi, then we could have a full blown Panic." Ezra nodded.
"Well that is why I haven't told anyone. Only three others know what I suspect. Hera, Jacen and...Thrawn." Ezra said and Sabine winced when he said the last name. She had already voiced her opinion of the Imperial Grand Admiral years ago when Ezra had returned from the Unknown Regions and he still had not told her the whole tale of what happened there. Why he had been gone for so long and why when she did see him again, that he was so reluctant to tell her anything. Though at the time she did not really care. All she cared about was that her Ezra was within her arms. Nothing else really mattered at the time. That was when she decided that he was it, no one other would even be who she desired as a mate. She frowned at him visibly and then hit him again. "Hey what was that for?" He said rubbing his left shoulder with discomfort.
"For making it impossible for me to even think of taking someone else as my Husband! You Di'kut! By the way, if you have not figured it out yet. You are taking the Vows this time! No sneaking off." Sabine declared with a wry smile. She had already given orders to over half of her Clan to ensure that he did not try to leave this time and this time she had complete support from every one of her Clan. "Of course you can't this time. I made sure of that." Ezra chuckled and shook his head.
"No this time. There is nothing that will stop me from taking those Vows." Ezra said reassuringly and Sabine moved closer. Kissing him. Then stood took his hand and led him to her Bedroom. She had an itch that needed scratching.
To be continued: Maybe