Krownest:
"Welcome home." Sabine sighed as she piloted the shuttle towards the planet. "You really think it's gonna be that bad?" he boyfriend asked. "I haven't been back to Krownest since before my time at the Imperial Academy, Anakin. And I didn't exactly leave on good terms." she told him.
"Well, maybe things have changed. They might be happy to see you." he suggested with a reassuring smile. His girlfriend chuckled humourlessly. "You don't know my family." she replied.
"I do. Your mother is the leader of Clan Wren, Sabine. She may be with the Empire now, but I believe her true loyalty lies with Mandalore." Renn said from the back of the shuttle.
"Even if that were true, she thinks I'm a traitor." she objected. "If you can convince your mother to help the rebels, all of Mandalore might follow you and the Darksaber." he said before she briefly placed her hand on the hilt.
"Ah, I should let them know we're coming so they don't shoot us down." she said. "If Ezra were here, he'd probably think you were joking. I however get the feeling, you're telling the truth." the ex-merc commented as they entered the planet's sky.
His girlfriend then pressed the hailing a button before speaking Mando'a. The comm beeped before a male voice replied in the same language the cut off. "What happened?" the young man asked her.
"They're jamming us." she replied before Chopper warbled over the shuttle's comm. "Incoming. Sounds like your family just sent out the welcoming committee." Kanan warned before they saw a group of flying Mandalorians in the distance.
"Shit! Rockets!" Anakin warned as four rockets headed straight for them. "I see them." she replied before managing to avoid them. "I thought you told them who you were?" her boyfriend complained.
"That's probably why they're shooting at us." she replied before hearing a thud from the roof. The group heard Chopper warble before the shuttle started losing altitude.
"We've lost the main thrusters. Brace for impact!" she warned before the shuttle crashed near some trees a minute later.
Sabine put her helmet on before the group exited the shuttle. "It's fucking freezing out here!" Anakin griped while rubbing his arms. "Looks like recruiting the Wrens will be more difficult than I thought." Fenn stated before Kanan turned to face him.
"You weren't easy to recruit either. So we switch to plan B. Better stay out of sight. I have a feeling we're gonna need you later." he said before the other man nodded and Anakin addressed Katie.
"Stay here with these two, you'll be a lot safer." he told her. The white and pink droid gave a worried beep before patted her on the dome and smiled. "Don't worry I'll be safe, promise." he replied before nodding at Rau and watching the door close.
The three then turned their attention to five Mandalorians approaching. "Now, remember, I could be related to these guys." the young woman reminded. "Don't worry. I'll play nice." her boyfriend replied as the other Mandalorians landed.
Anakin activated his blade and glared at the one wearing Imperial armor. "Anakin..." she began to remind before the other Mandalorians opened fire. The ex-merc and Jedi deflected bolts before the former redirected one at the Imperial's shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain and fall back onto the ground.
"Anakin!" his girlfriend scolded. "What? They shot first, Sabine." he defended himself while continuing to deflect blaster fire. "Sabine?" the Imperial asked in surprise before standing up and ordering the others to stand down in Mando'a.
The two Force-wielders deactivated their blades as the Imperial approached them. The man stopped about halfway and holstered his blaster before removing his helmet to reveal a man roughly the couple's age, with features similar to Sabine.
"Tristan?" she asked in surprise and after removing her own helmet. The woman then approached him before he spoke. "You changed your hair again." he stated with a small grin.
"You know me." she replied as she moved her hair around. "Do I?" he asked bitterly before looking at the other two. "Who are the Jedi?" he asked. "These are my friends. Kanan and my fiancé, Anakin." she replied as his eyes widened.
"Fiancé!? You're engaged to a Jedi?" he asked in shock. "I'm not a Jedi, dumbass." the ex-merc growled, stepping up beside her before he and the other man glared at one another.
"Enough, you two." she said, placing a hand on the ex-merc's armored chest before addressing the other man again. "I'll explain everything, I promise." she told him.
"I'll take you to the stronghold, but I can't vouch for how you'll be greeted." he replied before turning and walking away. Sabine glanced at her boyfriend and friend one last time before she and the other two followed the other Mandalorians.
Anakin made sure to stay directly by his girlfriend's side as they trailed behind Tristan. "How can you wear that armor, Tristan? How could you join them?" she asked him with a frown and tone of disbelief.
"You shouldn't have come back, Sabine." You shouldn't have come back, Sabine." he stated after stopping for a moment to look over his shoulder. "Thanks." she muttered with a tone of sarcasm. "So who are to Sabine anyway?" the ex-merc asked him.
"She never told you? I'm her brother." he replied while glancing over his shoulder. "Oh. Well if means anything, apologies for the shoulder. If I had known you were her brother, I'd never have attacked." the other man said before they reached a large stronghold.
The group walked up to a set of stairs before a Mandalorian stopped Sabine from continuing. Anakin's eyes widened as he saw a black-haired woman exit the door and walk over to the top of the stairs before frowning at Sabine.
'That must be her. My godmother... Ursa Wren...' the ex-merc subconsciously smiled as he looked at his godmother. "So, it's true then." she said his girlfriend. "Mother." she greeted sadly.
"Put her in a cell. She'll be held for trial." her mother ordered. Before the Mandalorian that stopped the younger woman earlier could put her in binders, she stopped him before taking the Darksaber off her belt and turning it on.
"Mother, we need to talk." she stated. "The Darksaber?" she gasped in surprise and disbelief.
Sabine cleared her throat before turning halfway to look at the two Force-wielders. "Kanan Jarrus, Anakin Revan. This is my mother, the Countess Ursa Wren." she introduced.
"It's nice-" that was all Anakin managed to get out as he attempted to greet his godmother for the first time before blasters were pointed at him as held his hand up.
The ex-merc just looked around before slowly lowering his hand. "Easy... Just wanted to greet my godmother." he explained before sensing joy coming from the older woman.
"Take your blasters off him." she ordered before addressing her daughter. "What did you expect would happen here, Sabine? That you'd be welcomed with open arms? You're wanted by the Empire!" she said with a frown.
"Aunty, please. Just give Sabine a chance." her godson pleaded. Ursa sighed and gave him a small smile before her serious expression returned as she looked at her daughter. "I will tolerate the Jedi presence in our ancestral home if he surrenders his weapon." she relented before heading back inside.
Anakin grinned when he realized she was letting him keep his lightsaber. "Well, that went better than I expected." her daughter sighed as she walked over to the other two before pushing the other male's arm down as he held it out for the Jedi's lightsaber.
"Well, we're not gonna make anymore progress standing out her." the ex-merc stated as the other man handed his saber over to the guard before the three headed up the stairs and inside.
"Your rebel friends are going to bring the Empire down on all of us. You believe the Darksaber will protect you? It won't. It's only a symbol." Ursa told her daughter from the two person throne she sat on.
"Yeah, a symbol that's united all Mandalorians in the past." her daughter added. "Look, if we stand together now-" she started to explain before the older woman cut her off.
"Stand together?" she repeated in disbelief. "Sabine, it's everything I can do to keep the other Clans from destroying us because of what you did." she explained with a frown. "I didn't know the Empire would use the weapon I designed against our people." the younger woman stated.
"But you don't believe me, do you?" she asked. "Even if I did, it wouldn't change all the other ruling houses from seeing you as a traitor. Your own brother now serves Gar Saxon to prove our loyalty and regain some small amount of status." her mother informed her while gesturing to Tristan.
"Gar Saxon is a killer." the younger female Mandalorian argued. 'And also three body parts short.' her boyfriend thought with a small dark smirk. "He's the Emperor's Hand, the acting ruler and governor of Mandalore." Tristan protested.
"And his men wiped out the Protectors." his sister added with a frown. "The Protectors were executed for treason, just as Fenn Rau will be when he is found." their mother went on.
"They were loyal to Mandalore and Saxon betrayed them!" the younger woman shot back. "Enough!" her mother yelled in anger as she stood. "Fenn Rau's people are dead and mine are not. And I intend to keep them that way. All of them." she continued a little less harshly.
"Except for me." Sabine said sadly before her boyfriend walked up to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Mother and son shared a look before the former looked at her daughter.
"Walk with me, both of you." she addressed the couple before they towards the balcony.
"How could you align with the Empire? After everything they've done to our people, after what they made me do." Sabine questioned her mother. "Do you think I didn't try to stop it? There was nothing I could do, Sabine." Ursa told her as she turned to face her daughter.
"Mandalore was on its knees before the Emperor. After he put Saxon in power, we had a choice. Side with him or Clan Wren would be destroyed. Your father-" she continued before the younger woman cut her off.
"Please, don't tell me." she pleaded. "He's alive." her mother reassured. "On Mandalore. A captive in everything but name. But if Clan Wren acts against the Empire..." she trailed off.
"They'll kill him." Anakin realized. "Yes." his godmother replied. "Why didn't you try and find me?" his girlfriend asked the older woman "Find you?" her mother repeated.
"Sabine, when you ran away, it saved you. Don't you understand? Coming back here has put you in danger. As much danger as holding that blade." she added, gesturing to the Darksaber before folding her arms.
"Where did you get it?" she asked before the younger woman held it up. "From Maul." she answered. "You won it from him in combat?" the older woman asked in disbelief
"Uh, not exactly, I-" Sabine started to reply before Ursa cut her off. "Then you have no claim to it." she replied with a frown. "Isn't owning it good enough?" her godson asked.
"Anyone can hold the Darksaber. The trick is keeping it, along with your head." she explained to him before looking at her daughter again. "Do you even know how to wield that blade?" she asked with a frown.
"You'd be surprised." the younger woman answered. "Always so immature, so selfish." her mother stated. "Yeah, and what about you? Always putting power and politics before your own family." the other woman shot back.
"Everything I do is to protect my family, Sabine!" the older woman argued. "Please! You do it for control." her daughter countered. Ursa glared at her for a moment before her gaze softened and she walked up to the younger woman.
Her mother gently grabbed her hands and held them up before Sabine gave her a curious look. "And your father called me stubborn. Now I see it in you." she said with an understanding look.
"What do you see?" the other woman asked with a questioning frown. "A warrior. Not the one I'd hoped, but still..." she trailed off before letting go of her daughter's hands.
"Well, I am your daughter. How could I be anything less?" the younger woman reminded quietly before both turned and leaned against the railing. "Look, the rebels are planning something, and we need your help." her daughter started.
"It'd be the first real blow to the Empire and we can show the galaxy that they can be defeated." she continued while pushing away from the railing to look at her mother.
"Please tell me these rebels are more than just a blind Jedi and you two." Ursa told them.
"Our numbers are growing every day. Mother, this could be the key to freeing Mandalore from Imperial control. I am not a traitor. I want to save Mandalore too, but it needs a strong leader. You have to trust me, just like I'm trusting you." her daughter explained while handing the Darksaber over.
The older woman looked at for a moment before the door opened to reveal Tristan. "Mother, you're being summoned by Sundari." he informed her. Their mother nodded before looking at her godson.
"I'm sorry, Anakin. It seems we'll have to catch up later." she apologized. "No problem." he replied with a smile before she went back inside. "How's it going?" Sabine's brother asked her.
"You know Mom. She hasn't changed." she answered. "No, but it's nothing a little sparring practice won't work out. You game?" he asked. "Sure. It's been a long time since I put you in your place." she replied with a smirk before the three young adults entered the building.
Deciding to split from his girlfriend for the time being, Anakin made his way back to Kanan in the throne room before Ursa joined them. "You believe you know my daughter better than me?" she asked incredulously while staring down the Jedi.
"You don't know what it's taken for her just to be here. You should listen to her." he replied as she sat on the throne. "She's a child." the woman stated. "I believe you're underestimating the woman she's become." he argued.
"Why would Clan Wren ever side with the Empire anyway?" her godson asked. "Sabine said that your family were true Mandalorians, loyal only to-" he started to continue before she cut him off.
"No offense, dear. But you have no idea what you're talking about." she replied gently but also firmly. "I know that she was telling the truth about the Protectors before. Sabine and I fought Gar Saxon on Concord Dawn. He was proud that he wiped them all out." he replied with a frown.
"You both fought Governor Saxon?" she asked in surprise. "Yes, we did. I even cut both arms and one leg off." he replied, folding his arms before noticing the Jedi's surprise.
"Dude, come on. You've known me for three years. Are you really that surprised?" he asked with one brow raised. Before he could reply the older woman spoke again.
"Then I am truly sorry for what I'm about to do." she said with a tone of regret before nodding towards them. Anakin placed a hand on his saber when all the guards suddenly pointed their blasters at him and the older man.
"I'm sorry, Ani..." she apologized, guilt evident in her voice. Anakin just scoffed and turned away from her. "My father would be ashamed of you." he said coldly.
A few minutes later Anakin saw Sabine and Tristan enter the room before the former run up to him and Kanan. "You can't do this!" she yelled at her mother. "Yes, she can." a familiar voice said before everyone turned their attention to the entrance of the throne room to see Gar Saxon.
"Because she is loyal. Just not to you." he continued with a dark smirk before addressing Ursa. "I believe you have something else for me." he told her before she looked at it then tossed it to him.
"No!" her daughter cried out in disbelief before attempting to rush toawrds Saxon. "Sabine, this is for the best." her brother said after stopping her.
"I've upheld my end of the bargain, Saxon. You have the Darksaber. Take the Jedi and... and the boy and let my daughter go." she said, briefly struggling to speak when referring to her godson.
"Your mother betrayed everything you believe in to save you." the Viceroy began. "It's admirable, except she consorted with known traitors and a Revan to do it." he continued before looking at her.
"What are you talking about?" she asked in confusion. "Why, Countess, you are harboring rebels here with one of them being a Revan. Of course you already knew about that didn't you?" he questioned.
"Godmother to a Revan." he spat in anger and disgust. "Clan Wren is clearly a threat to the Empire and must be made an example of." he stated before his soldiers took aim.
Ursa's clan didn't hesitate to point their blasters back at Saxon and his men as said woman glared and stood as her son took a few steps towards him. "Governor, wait! It doesn't have to be this way. We are all Mandalorians." Tristan pleaded for his family.
"I've been fair to you, Tristan, and you've served me well. I'll give you a choice. Stand with me, or die with your family." Saxon said. The younger man looked at the ground for a moment before turning and pointing his blaster pistol at his sister.
Sabine looked heartbroken at her brother's betrayal before he suddenly turned around and pointed his blaster the Viceroy. "I choose family." he declared. "Then Clan Wren ends here." the older man stated with a dark smirk before activating the Darksaber.
"Oh, I don't so." Anakin said before Force pushing them away. Right as they hit the ground, Fenn suddenly crashed through the window and landed before tossing Kanan his saber.
"Took you long enough!" the Knight told him as the Imperials stood back up and opened fire. "Rau!" Saxon snarled before opening fire on the Protector. "I've been busy." Rau replied to the Jedi as he and the ex-merc deflected blaster fire.
Sabine activated her left vambrace's personal combat shield as she and the rest of Clan Wren opened fire on the Viceroy and his soldiers. "Remember, only blast the guys-" she started to reminder her boyfriend.
"In white, I got it." he cut her off while continuing to deflect bolts. After deflecting a blaster shot back at an airborne trooper, the ex-merc suddenly noticed Saxon approaching his godmother as she was distracted by shooting at his other soldiers.
The young man then turned and saw that his girlfriend noticed this too before reaching out with the Force and pushing away a trooper that shot her blaster out of her hand.
"Sabine, catch!" he yelled, tossing his saber at her after she turned to face him. The young woman caught the lightsaber before activating it and quickly rushing to block Saxon's killing blow.
"You will be taken back to Mandalore to finish what you started, the last living member of the Wren Clan." he growled before breaking the saberlock. Sabine dodged his follow up strike then backflipped away before he activated his jetpack and tackled her through the window.
"Sabine!" both her brother and the ex-merc yelled in worry after Tristan shot the last Imperial. The group then quickly made their way to the balcony.
The group watched as Sabine dodged Saxon's strikes before backflipping back onto her feet and activating her boyfriend's blade to block his next strike.
Seeing his girlfriend struugling against her opponent, Anakin placed a hand on the railing and was about to jump over before Ursa grabbed his shoulder to stop him.
"By Mandalorian custom and law, no one can interfere." she told him firmly before he pulled his shoulder free. "Are your customs more important than the life of your daughter?" he snapped before reluctantly watching the duel only.
Sabine blocked his next strike before dodging the next two and then watching him take flight and open fire with his blaster pistol. The woman activated her shield and ran over to a nearby boulder before using it to jump off and attack him with her flamethrower.
The Viceroy cried out in surprise as he was forced back a bit before noticing she was gone. Unbeknownst to him, the young woman was quickly running around to his backside before stopping on the frozen lake and shooting a paralyzing dart at his jetpack.
The older man's jetpack started to short circuit before it sent him downward then past her. "I'm impressed. You have some skill. But not enough to save you." they heard him taunt her after he stood up and re-activated the Darksaber.
"That's funny. I was about to say the same thing to you." she taunted back while re-igniting her boyfriend's blade. The two combatants stared each other down for a moment before they charged each other.
The young woman blocked his first three strikes then avoided the fourth before again blocking the next and struggling as he pushed hard against her. Upon noticing the ice start cracking, the ex-merc's girlfriend quickly broke the saberlock before twisting around his next strike and elbowing him in the chin.
Saxon grunted in pain and anger as he was forced back a foot before rushing her again. Sabine managed to block the Viceroy's next four slashes before dodging the fifth and using the moment to quickly slash the bicep of his saber arm.
The man cried out in pain as he let go of the Darksaber and fell to his knees holding his wounded arm with the other hand. The young woman caught the saber out of the air before activating it and crossing both blades at his neck.
"Yield." she ordered as Anakin and the others walked up the edge of the lake. "I'll never yield to you, girl. You'll have to kill me." he spat.
The ex-merc's heart rate picked up a bit as he remembered being in the same situation as her years ago and noticed that just like he was then, she was tempted to kill the unarmed man now.
"Kill him... kill him now." he subconsciously muttered. "What?" Kanan asked in confusion before his friend snapped out of thoughts.
"Nothing. It's just, when I fought that male Inquistor years ago I ended up cutting his hands off and had him in the same position Saxon is now. When that happened my head suddenly ended up hurting and I heard a voice say: 'Good Anakin, good. Kill him... kill him now.' I almost did. But in the end I realized it would be the wrong thing to do." he explained, feeling a bit better now that he got that off his chest.
The Jedi put a hand on his shoulder. "You did the right thin." he assured. "Thanks, Kanan." he replied sincerely before they turned their attention back to Sabine and Saxon as she deactivated both blades.
"That might be the Mandalorian way, but it's not my way. Not anymore." she said before turning her attention to her boyfriend and smiling. The man gave returned it before the two started walking towards each other.
Just as they were about halfway to each other, a blaster shot echoed at the same time Sabine gasped silently. Her boyfriend nearly panicked in horror before realizing that her life-force wasn't dwindling.
Anakin peeked his head around her at the same time she turned around before they both saw a blaster burn on the armor right where Saxon's heart was. The couple only saw a horrified look on his face for a second before slumped to the ground dead.
The two turned back around to see Ursa holding her blaster up before holstering it and making her way towards them. "Nice shot, aunty." the ex-merc complimented with a smile when she stopped in front of them.
The older woman chuckled and returned it before looking back at her daughter. "Mother." the younger woman said with a smile. "No one threatens our family or my godson." she said while placing a hand on opposite shoulder's of the couple.
"I hope you can forgive me for earlier. You're right, your father would be ashamed of me." she apologized to the young man, remorseful for her actions. Anakin smiled before taking her off guard with a hug.
The younger man pulled away after a few seconds before replying. "It's okay, aunty. You were only doing what you thought was right thing. No one can can blame you for that." he reassured softly.
His godmother smiled at him again before they turned their attention to Fenn as he approached.
"Gar Saxon was guilty of treason against the throne, collaboration with our enemy, and the execution of my fellow Protectors. But when the rest of Mandalore finds out about his death, there will be chaos." he explained.
"Perhaps Mandalore needs chaos if it's to become strong once again, and so that we may find a leader worthy of our people." she stated with a serious look.
"'Chaos'. Think I finally realize why your mother and my father managed to become good friends." the ex-merc whispered jokingly to his girlfriend before she chuckled quietly.
A few minutes later the shuttle landed near the stronghold before Anakin approached and Katie beeped at him as she exited. "Told you I'd be safe." he said with smile.
"The Empire will come for you once they find out what's happened here. The Rebellion can help." Kanan told Ursa. "The same Rebellion that sent you for my help? No. Mandalore must rise by itself. We protect our own." she replied while walking up to him and the couple.
"So do we." he stated before addressing her daughter. "Sabine?" he asked. "She's right." the young woman told him. "Wait. You're not coming back?" Anakin asked in surprise.
"I'm done running away. My father's on Mandalore. We'll find a way to get him back. And then... Then maybe we can join the fight against the Empire. But right now, I can do more good here." she explained softly.
Chopper warbled sadly before the Knight took a step towards her. "I am so-" he started before she cut him off gently. "Don't say you're proud of me." she stated with a small smile.
"Me? Never." he told her, mirroring her smile before she ran up and hugged him. "But I am going to miss you." he admitted while returning the hug. "Ani..." she trailed off after pulling away and looking at him.
Much to her confusion, he was smiling at her. "No need to say goodbye. Because I'm staying..." he replied softly. A smile replaced her confused expression before she kissed him deeply.
"My father wasn't given much of choice but to stay behind when my mother left the Order. I however do have a choice, and I've decided that I'm staying by your side..." he explained softly after breaking the kiss.
The woman he loved smiled at him before turning back to Kanan and giving him a sad smile. "Thank you." she said softly. The Jedi smiled back before heading into the shuttle and taking off with Chopper.
"You did well today. All of Clan Wren saw who you've become. You could lead Mandalore." Fenn suggested to Sabine as he walked up to her and Anakin.
"No. This was about my family. I'm not Mandalore's leader. But I'll find the person who is." she replied while holding up the Darksaber and smiling at the retreating shuttle.
"Aunty." Anakin called out to the older woman before she turned and faced him with a smile. "I believe you mentioned something about catching up?" he asked before she gestured for him to follow.
The two then made their way to the balcony before her godson leaned against the railing. "Now with all that unpleasantness taken care of, I can ask you how your father's been, since it would seem I owe him fifty credits." she joked softly as his chest tightened.
The ex-merc had been dreading this moment for a long time and even now he still unsure how to tell her. The young man swallowed thickly before speaking as his eyes moistened.
"I'm so sorry, aunty, but he's... He's gone... They both are..." he replied softly and before pushing away from the railing to face her. Ursa gasped softly in horror before squeezing her eyes closed and steeling herself.
"How?" she asked simply before opening her eyes and looking at him. "Vader." he replied before she leaned against the railing and hung her head. "I wish you'd have told me sooner. I would've helped immediately instead of trying to turn you in." she said after giving him a frown
Anakin sighed before leaning against the railing again. "That's why I didn't tell you. To me it would've felt like I was trying to guilt trip you." he argued before sighing again.
His godmother's eyes widened for a second before she stared at the ground in thought. "You're wrong." she replied before he looked at her in surprise.
"I wouldn't have seen it like that. I would've seen it as helping not only my godson but also helping daughter's godfather and of course simply helping him, one of my oldest friends in any way I could." she added with conviction.
"I'm sorry... I guess I didn't see it that way..." he apologized before she pulled him into a hug. "Now. About your relationship with my daughter..." she started after pulling away and folding her arms with a smirk and narrowed eyes.
Anakin chuckled nervously and tapped his index fingers together. This was going to be an interesting talk...
Chapter 37 is done.