Credit for this story idea goes to a Pinterest prompt and tarisilmarwen on Tumblr, and credit for the cover art goes to arrival-layne on DeviantArt.
Like my other story, All In The Life Of A Jedi, translations for the Mando'a will be at the bottom.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or theirs settings. All rights go to Disney and Star Wars: Rebels.
Hope you enjoy!
"My name's Ezra. What's yours?
This phrase has burned itself into my memory, unforgettable, so searing it's visible while I sleep. It's the first phrase my soulmate will say to me, whoever and wherever they are. No one seems to know how the whole soulmark thing came to be, though there have been rumors that the Empire started it in an attempt to curb rebellions. Jokes on the Empire if that's true though, because people can be further inspired to fight after meeting their soulmate. Sometimes, it gives them someone other than themselves to fight for.
What a strange concept, soulmates. Without previously meeting, someone out there is perfectly suited for you. Everyone has a soulmate, and my default, a soul-phrase as well. Mine stretches across my left wrist in an orange scrawl, as though someone just learning to write had penned the message. For some people, hiding their marks can be tricky. However, I'm fortunately able to hide my mark by wearing long sleeves under my armor.
My name is Sabine Wren, and this is how I met my soulmate.
As the heir to my clan, I've always known my mother expected me to marry someone of high standing, whether they're my soulmate or not. However after being declared dar'manda by my mother for leaving the Imperial Academy, I don't feel that pressure anymore. While I was glad to have that shadow cleared from over my head, it hasn't changed the fact that I've missed my family with every day that's passed since. On the other hand, however, I don't think I could subject myself to a loveless match. Not after seeing how different my parents acted compared to the parental figures I've found in Kanan and Hera. That is, if I could even go home.
In that same vein of thought though, I was unsure for a long time if I would ever find my soulmate after all. I've been traveling across the galaxy with the Ghost crew from the age of 14, and now, just shy of 17, I still have no idea who my supposed "perfect half" is. I still have a family though, in the Ghost crew. For now, they're enough.
The day starts out ordinarily enough, with most of the Ghost crew getting knocked out of our bunks by an Imperial attack in Lothal's atmosphere. Jolted awake, we all rush to the ship's weapons to fend off the Imperials. As we all sit in various gun turrets, warding off the TIE fighters, Kanan uses the in-ship comms system to remind us of the plan for when we land.
"Remember, just get the crates of blasters and get out. And be subtle, at least until we have the blasters." Kanan not-so-subtly aims the last part of his remark toward me, knowing my penchant for blowing things up.
"Yes, we know, Kanan." I reply, appreciative of the thoroughness, but also slightly annoyed at the repetitive nature Spectre One was talking in. It was too early for this, and I hadn't even gotten to have a cup of caf yet.
"Let's just run through the plan again, real quick," Hera butts in, trying to keep the peace in an already tense situation.
"It's just like I was saying," Kanan continues. "Big picture, we go in, take control of the blasters and get out. Smaller picture, we sneak into the square, try to blend in, then create a distraction so we can grab the crates. Use explosives on Imperial speeders as a distraction where needed, and get the heck out of there. Does everyone know their cue?"
At this point, Zeb, Kanan, and I are all in the Ghost's cargo hold, Imperial ships temporarily off our backs thanks to Hera's flying.
"I sure do. You'll give me the signal, then motion for Sabine to give us a distraction." Zeb growls, a determined look on his face. "We can't let those blasters get away from us."
"I'm with you on that one, big guy. For more reasons than one." Kanan puts a hand on Zeb's shoulder, facial expression mirroring the one on the Lasat's.
"I've got all the explosives we should need for this. Here," I say, tossing a grenade to both Zeb and Kanan. "Same thing as before, they'll activate as soon as they latch onto something, and go off when you press the detonator."
"We're coming up on your drop point, Spectres. Everybody ready?" Hera's voice cuts through our pre-scuffle chatter, prompting us to move toward the ramp at the back of the ship.
I put my helmet on, the visor giving everything a slight sepia tint. "As I'll ever be, Hera. Let's do this."
Just as planned, we split up just outside of the town square. Zeb chooses to stake out in a doorway, while I decide on a spot nearby, between some pottery and a speeder. Kanan settles on an alley a little further away, giving himself the ability to observe our surroundings a little more clearly.
I really hope this all goes smoothly. Vizago will have our heads otherwise. The thought of how the Devaronian would react if we didn't gain control of this shipment makes me shudder.
The sound of Kanan giving me the signal breaks me out of my thoughts, and I respond correctly, drawing the attention of a nearby Imperial officer. They turn toward me, a warning to stop likely on the tip of their tongue, but I throw an armed detonator on the speeder next to me before they can finish. The sudden explosion literally stops the officer in their tracks, and gives me the cover I needed to get out of there. Casually walking away from the chaos in my wake, I find my way onto the roof of a nearby building, using my new vantage point to watch for any issues that might arise to interfere with the success of our mission.
Minutes later, my higher perspective pays off when one of the speeders we were risking our shebs to get our hands on zooms down the street below me, some random kid in the driver's seat. I dive down, landing on one of the crates behind the kid, who looks a few years younger than myself.
"Pretty gutsy move, kid." The boy in question gasps, which I'm surprised I could hear over the noise of the speeder and overall commotion. I take one of my blasters out and point it at him for a split second in a warning before aiming the barrel at the space between the two crates and firing. This destroys the link connecting the two and forces the container I'm leaning on to separate from the other. "If the big guy catches you, he'll end you. Good luck!" I say the last part in a sarcastic tone, hoping Kanan and Zeb will be able to get the crate back without too much trouble. After all, he was just a kid, and it seemed like he was doing basically the same thing we were; stealing to survive.
With one crate recovered, I temporarily retreat from the craziness as Zeb and Kanan chase after the kid on their own speeders. Turning onto a side street, I activate my comm channel.
"Spectre 5 to Ghost, I need a pickup. I can meet you on a side street in a few minutes."
"Roger, Spectre 5. There's a small clearing a few streets over from your position. I'll meet you over there."
"Acknowledged, Ghost. Spectre 5 out."
Upon my arrival back on the Ghost, the first being I see on board is Chopper, who had opened the ramp for me.
"Hey, Chop. Holding down the fort while we're gone?" I walk past the cantankerous droid, only to feel an electric shock in my leg.
"Ouch! Chopper! What was that for, you bucket of bolts?"
The droid in question cackles angrily. *You let the kriffing kid get away, that's what that's for.*
"I had to recover at least some of the blasters, plus Zeb and Kanan were right behind me. They'll get him."
"Sabine!" Hera yells for me from the cockpit. "I need you on the guns, we've got company coming."
"On my way, Hera! Chopper, stay down here for when Kanan and Zeb need a pickup." Hearing Chopper reply in sassy beeps, I climb up the ladder and hurry into the first gun turret, eager to blast a few TIE fighters.
Later on, Hera followed Zeb and Kanan out to the main road out of the city, still tracking the same kid from before who remains in possession of one of the crates.
"Stubborn kid," I quip from my chair, using the ship comms to communicate.
"Mmhm. Reminds me of a few other people I know." A teasing tone can be heard in Hera's voice, to which I give no comment in return.
"Sabine, get out to the cargo bay. Zeb's on his way up, and could use some help with the crates."
"On it, Hera." I grab my helmet from the back of my chair and head back down to the cargo bay, crossing paths with Chopper on the way.
"Chop, you were supposed to stay in the hanger. What are you doing?" My question receives no response other than a mechanical raspberry from the droid in question as he rolls through the hallway toward the galley and cockpit.
"Fine, be that way. See if I don't give you a paint job later!" I retort, climbing down the ladder into the storage bay and opening the back hatch.
Luckily, we were able to briefly land near where Zeb had stopped his speeder, allowing us to load the crates without using the magna-lock. Then, just as we're loading the last crate, we hear Hera's voice through the ship's comms system yet again.
"Hope those crates are loaded. Spectre One needs a lift."
"All clear, Ghost. Take off." Zeb replies, hitting the button to close the ramp.
Within minutes, our illustrious leader is back onboard and directing us to follow the kid, who is still hauling the last crate of blasters with a TIE fighter on his tail. "I'll try to get the kid in here, even if it means losing that crate." Kanan states, activating the ramp as Hera flies closer to the ground.
"Who even is this kid? First he takes our crates, tries to get away from us with said crate, and now he's trying to outrun a TIE fighter on a speeder? I mean, I told him he had some gutsy moves when I rescued one of the crates from him, but wow! The only people I've known with that much confidence are, well, us." I say to no one in particular, shocked by the blue-haired stranger and his overconfidence.
"I don't know who he is, but once we capture him, I'm going to end him." Zeb growls, clearly frustrated that he had not only been denied the chance to bust some bucketheads, but also that our mission's plan had completely gone to poo-doo.
"You know Zeb, that's the same thing I said to the kid. C'mon, let's get these crates locked down, so none of them tip over and open." I walk over to the first crate and activate the anti-grav, pushing it toward the wall.
Shortly after, Kanan goes up to the cockpit to talk to Hera, leaving Zeb and I standing guard in the cargo bay. Zeb and the new kid get into a slight argument while I again marvel at the kid's audacity. Challenging a Lasat is no small task, and this kid attempts it without looking back. Zeb becomes irritated by that, and shoves the kid into a nearby storage unit. Within five minutes, Kanan asks us where the kid is. However, when we check the storage unit, he's nowhere to be found and a grate is missing from a vent on the wall. Listening closely, Zeb and I can hear creaks and whines in the ceiling, as though someone was unnaturally stressing metal joints.
"Yeah, he's in the ship, alright. Literally." I say, hardly phased after all the other things this kid had gotten into.
Oh, great. I think. He's a vent crawler too? This day just got even more interesting.
However, the Empire didn't leave much time for standing around wondering about things, as several TIE fighters began firing on our ship. I run into the same gun turret as I had been in earlier, only to find the boy in my seat. Grabbing his shoulder, I toss him out of the chair before taking off my helmet, which I'd been wearing the entire time we were in the cargo hold. With viewing obstructions removed, I immediately sit down and start firing on the TIEs, joining Kanan in blasting them to smithereens. The next thing out of the kid's mouth was something I thought I'd never hear, in an obvious flirting attempt on his part.
"My name's Ezra. What's yours?" What the kriff? This, this kid was my soulmate? No, I don't believe that. I must have misheard him. He can't be my soulmate, that's ridiculous. Yeah, I just misheard him. Oh kriff, hit that TIE! I was pulled out of my thoughts by a TIE fighter getting much too close to the ship, only stopping when Kanan shot it down.
"Sabine, you okay over there?" Zeb asks me, holding the kid, apparently named Ezra, by the scruff of his collar.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Just spaced out for a half second."
"I'll get this one out of your hair. He and I need to have a little "talk" about a few things." Zeb gestures to Ezra and not-so-gently shoves him toward the doorway.
"Okay, thanks Zeb. See you in the galley after the bucketheads are taken care of."
Once the TIE fighters had been left behind by Hera's jump to lightspeed, I sit back in the gunner's chair for a second, the full realization of the day so far finally hitting me.
Holy kriff, he just can't be my soulmate, could he? That scrawny kid? While I chase thoughts of denial through my head, I get a gut feeling telling me that he was, in fact, my soulmate. I need to talk to Hera.
Luckily, I happen to run into Hera on my way to the galley, giving me the chance to talk to her without the rest of the crew around.
"Hey Hera, can I talk to you about something really quick?"
"Sabine, can it wait until after the meeting with the rest of the crew? We need to figure out what we're going to do about the new kid."
"Ezra, right. Actually, what I want to talk to you about has some things to do with him." I cradle my left wrist in my right hand, trying to hint what I wanted to talk about without actually saying anything.
"You don't mean—"
I nod, cutting off the rest of her sentence before she can finish, a massive smile on her face.
"And you're sure it's him?"
"As sure as I can be without seeing his mark. I mean, he said the phrase, and he's the only person I've come across so far with the name "Ezra". Even with as vast as this galaxy is, I can't imagine that name is super popular with people when they're naming their kids."
"Oh Sabine, I'm so happy for you!" Hera gives me a tight hug, motherly affection wafting off her through both the hug and the smile she gives me. "Maybe you can talk to him after the meeting?"
"We'll see. I don't want to jump right into asking him about his mark, me being a stranger and all. I feel like that would make me seem creepy. Besides, I'm not sure I even want a relationship so soon. I mean, life during a war can be so short, and I can't afford to be distracted right now."
"Well, I'm sure however you choose to approach this, it'll figure itself out. And Sabine," Hera puts her hand on my upper arm. "Look at Kanan and myself. We're soulmates who were lucky enough to find each other in this crazy world. I know you're nervous about this, but I know I would have hated it if I'd never talked to Kanan until it was too late. I don't want you to lose your soulmate before you have the chance to truly find out who they are."
"Okay, Hera. I'll definitely think about it." I reply, starting to hear some commotion coming from the ship's galley. "Anyway, we should probably get down to the galley before Chopper electrocutes everyone. I've already gotten zapped by him today, and that's not an experience I'm hoping to repeat any time soon."
A while later, the whole Ghost crew and Ezra are on the way to their meeting with Cikatro Vizago. With the autopilot engaged, the crew sits in various places around the galley having something to eat or drink for the first time in a while. Hera and Kanan are sitting next to each other on the bench behind the dejarik table, Kanan's arm around Hera's shoulders. Zeb digs into his space waffles from his seat against the wall opposing the dejarik table, and I'm leaning against the counter next to the conservator drinking my first cup of caf for the day. Chopper, however, is fighting with Ezra. The droid has his metal arm out, and it's crackling with electricity as he chases Ezra around the room.
"Ow! What is with you, rust bucket? I haven't done anything!"
"Chopper, lay off him." Hera reprimands her droid before turning to Ezra. "Sorry about him. He's very...territorial over my ship, and doesn't like when people crawl around in things without warning."
"Well, I don't like getting trapped in small spaces without warning." Ezra crossed his arms and glares, a chilly look on his face. Clearly, this kid is used to being on his own and not relying on anyone else. I can respect that, since I'd had a similar mindset when Hera and Kanan found me, plus it took me a while to warm up to the idea of being part of a crew.
"Yeah, that's another thing we have to talk about, Zeb. No locking people in small places when you're supposed to be watching them!"
"Wha-what was I supposed to do? He insulted me!"
"Zeb..." Hera glares at the Lasat, giving him a warning with her voice. "Insults or not, no locking people in small places when you're supposed to be watching them."
Zeb's ears tilt back slightly as he hangs his head. "Sorry, Hera, it won't happen again."
"Well, you've just volunteered yourself to clean any carbon scoring off the ship when we land next."
With a resigned nod of his head, Zeb acknowledges what Hera says and turns back to his plate of food. The situation temporarily resolved, Hera and Kanan's attention turns to Ezra.
"Hey kid, you okay?" Kanan asks Ezra, who now seemed to be cradling his right arm.
"Yeah, I'm okay. I just need some bandages or something. A blaster shot from one of the TIEs grazed my arm."
Hera's eyes widen. "Why didn't you tell us? Sabine can help you with that, right Sabine?"
"Yeah, I can show you where we keep the med pack." I reply, finishing my cup of caf and putting it with the rest of the crew's dirty dishes. "C'mon, it's this way."
As Ezra and I walk out of the galley toward the fresher where the med pack was stored, I can't help but notice Hera whispering to Kanan, followed by Kanan locking eyes with me.
Well, I guess Kanan knows now. This'll be interesting.
After handing Ezra the med pack, I step out of the fresher and into the hall. I start heading toward my cabin, intending to grab my helmet from where I'd left it, but I hear Ezra calling me before I can get too far.
"Hey, um, Sabine? Could I, uh, have some help with this?"
I turn around to see Ezra standing in the fresher doorway, in a short sleeved orange shirt instead of his jacket, which I assume he had taken off. His left hand is rubbing the back of his neck, and he refuses to meet my eyes, making me believe he's embarrassed for asking me for help. Despite wanting more time to decompress from the day's events so far, I take pity on him.
"Sure, what do you need help with?" I sigh, walking back toward the fresher.
"I actually need some help getting a bacta pad on it. It hurts to pinch these fingers together, so I can't rip the packet open."
"You sure you want my help? I mean, I can go get Hera. I'm pretty sure she's still in the galley."
"I'm sure. Please, Sabine?"
The pleading look in his startlingly blue eyes pierces into me for a second or two, until I finally give in. What's the worst that can happen anyway? Maybe this'll give you the chance to get to know him better.
I squeeze into the fresher, the small space not ideal for more than one person at a time. "Okay, hand me the bacta. Where did the bolt hit you?"
"Right here," he winces slightly, using his left hand to point toward a spot on his arm just above the elbow. Most of his upper arm is covered by his shirtsleeve, but I'm able to just barely see an inflamed section of skin peek out from the hem.
"Okay, I'll need to roll up your sleeve to get a better look at the wound. Is that okay?" I look at him carefully, wanting to know he's okay with me being this close. Normally, I'm not this cautious around someone, especially someone new, but something about this blue-haired boy in front of me prompts me to be more gentle.
'He could be your soulmate! His name is Ezra, after all, and how many other Ezras have you met?'
A voice that sounds suspiciously like Hera's zips through my head, much to my chagrin.
Ka'ra, my conversation with Hera earlier is really getting to me. I mentally roll my eyes and dismiss my train of thought, hearing Ezra reply.
"I guess so, yeah. I think the sleeve is sticking to it a little bit though, just so you know."
"Okay, thanks for letting me know. Tell me if it starts stinging a lot while I'm helping you."
"What, you don't think I can take a little pain? I'm tougher than that!"
"We'll see about that, kid. Now, turn so I can get a better look at that arm."
Surprisingly obediently, Ezra turns, giving me better access to his wounded arm. As I lift the fabric away from the burn, however, I see handwriting that I instantly recognize, because it's my own. For, lo and behold, the phrase Pretty gutsy move, kid is written across Ezra's upper arm in a multicolored script. It's the very same phrase I'd said to him a few hours ago. No wonder he seemed to be shocked when I said something to him back on Lothal.
"Hey Sabine, everything okay? I can take care of the burn if it's bothering you too much. Here, just open the bacta and I can—" My freezing at the sight of his mark finally hits Ezra. Likely assuming the sight of the injury is grossing me out, he turns toward me only to realize I'm looking at his mark.
"Ezra, y-your mark," I lightly stammer. "It's the same thing I said to you back on Lothal. Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"Well, it's not like I've really had a chance, what with Zeb throwing me in that storage unit and all."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. Zeb...just gets a little too gruff sometimes. It's nothing personal."
"Besides," Ezra continues. "How was I supposed to start this conversation anyway? 'Hey, I'm Ezra, and I think we're soulmates'? Based on earlier, you probably would have punched me, at the very least."
"Yeah, that's probably true." I went back to taking care of his wound, keeping my head down in an attempt to hide my burning cheeks.
"So..." Ezra starts. "Where's your mark? You know, just to be sure and all."
"Oh!" I smack my right hand to my forehead and laugh lightly, in disbelief that I'd forgotten about my own mark. "It's right here." I reach my left hand towards him, before he looks at me in confusion.
"So, your mark is on your sleeve?"
"No, di'kut, it's on my wrist. You can move my sleeve back to see it." I laugh again, this time at how literally he's taking what I'm saying.
Ka'ra, he's so confused.
He takes my offered hand ever so gently, as if afraid I'm going to break. Turning my wrist over, he pushes my sleeve back to reveal my mark. As he lays eyes on it for the first time, his eyes widen before he drops my hand in pure shock.
"That-that's my handwriting. Stars' end, my handwriting is on your wrist!"
"Apparently so. Well, I guess there's no denying anything now, is there?"
"I guess not! Wait, let's try this again." Ezra turns to face me and extends his right hand, wincing as the motion irritates his injury. "My name's Ezra, and I think we're soulmates. What's your name?" He grins, winking cheekily as he speaks.
I roll my eyes, smiling at his antics before taking his offered hand. "Hi Ezra, my name is Sabine, and I think we're soulmates too."
However, the simple handshake doesn't last long. Right after we take hands, he pulls me into a hug, my nose getting buried in his wild hair. It feels awkward at first, but my intuition tells me that with time, and getting to know him more, it won't feel nearly as awkward. I already feel more comfortable around him, and it's not even been a full day since we met.
I may have been apprehensive of whether I would ever find my soulmate, but now I know how it feels to have someone else to fight for. With time, I have a feeling I'll know how Kanan and Hera feel around each other, but for now, I'm just happy to have found my forever best friend. We might be young now, but I think our newly-formed bond is one that's likely to last.
Mando'a Translations:
Dar'manda = Someone who is considered a traitor by other Mandalorians
Shebs = Backside, rear
Di'kut = Idiot
Ka'ra = Stars
Constructive criticism is appreciated!