Star Wars Rebels: Ezra and the Amazons (Short Story) Part 1
Introduction: After sacrificing himself to save his friends and Lothal. Ezra was able to escape the Chimeara within an Command Level Escape Pod. Not fully knowing where he has escaped to, his jettisoned Pod descends towards an uncharted World among the Unknown Regions.
Crash and Capture:
Unfortunately the Escape Pod malfunctioned and when it landed on the surface of the Unknown World, it actually came close to crashing. As Ezra crawled out of the damaged and smoking Pod, he noticed two things. One his left arm was broken and two the blaster wound that he had in the same arm really started to hurt. Reaching upwards he brushed his right hand across his forehead and noticed another thing. He was bleeding as well. In no real condition to move too far from the Crash, he crawled towards a nearby tree and leaned against it. Sleep beckoned to him as he lay back. Not that he was tired, but with the reduction of adrenaline he was feeling weak. Unable to keep his eyes open, he exhaled and immediately passed out. Awakening a few hours later to the sound of several voices. "Look Sister Ashen, his arm is broken." One voice said.
"Yes and he has also been shot Sister Tura." The other female voice said who Ezra deduced was Tura. Another voice chimed in.
"Enough of that. Tura get the Med Kit and Ashen some sticks to be used as a splint." The Third Voice said with authority and the two others moved away. Ezra slowly opened his eyes and saw a tall brunette Woman. She had piercing green eyes and what really caught his interest, she was wearing a dark green colored Armor. Holding a long Spear and on her hip was a Sword. Under the other arm she held a Helmet with just a nose guard. The Woman smiled down at him. "Ah you are awake, good. I am Tarassa of the Green Hills. My Sisters and I will help you. Introduce yourself if you will."
"Ezra, my name is Ezra Bridger." Ezra responded instantly as the two others returned and he noticed that they too were wearing Armor. He stared at them and finally realized that all three were quite beautiful and the Armor could not hide their sensational figures. One called Tura began to apply a salve to his bleeding wounds with the other called Ashen placed a splint on his arm and a sling. Once both were done, the pain in his wounds started to reduce. Even the throbbing of his broken arm.
"It is a pity he is hurt so badly. He is not bad looking, I would not mind challenging him for possession." Tura said as she smiled at Ezra and he stared at her with confusion.
"Do not fret Ezra Bridger. Those at the Settlement will instruct you in the rules here. Ashen get the Liter and we will attach it to your Gorse. Then take him to the nearest Settlement." Tarassa ordered and Ashen went to get whatever a Gorse was. While Tarassa and Tura eased him onto a wooden liter. Soon Ezra saw what a Gorse was. It was a tall biped-ed Lizard with Red Scales and long fanged teeth and claws. On its back was a type of saddle and Ashen was mounted on its back. It's head swayed back and forth and a spiked tail swooshed behind it. In seconds they attached the Liter and within moments they were on their way. Ezra was amazed on how fast the Lizard was even hauling him as it ran across the hard ground with grace and speed. Ezra passed out during the journey and when he awoke again, he was unceremoniously dropped in the middle of a village. "Headman! Come forth!" Tarassa said loudly and a grey haired man approached gazing down at Ezra. "Tend this young man, his name is Ezra and he is injured. Once healed inform him of the rules." She ordered and Ezra felt himself being raised off the ground. Looking over and watching as the Three Women rode their mounts out of the Village at high speed.
"Welcome to purgatory, Ezra. For men that is what it is." The Headman said as he led the group that carried Ezra into a nearby hut. Inside another man produced a Medical Scanner and began to tend to his injuries. The first night, Ezra slept in a Jedi Hibernation Trance. Healing himself enough that the pain was now just a tingling sensation. When he awoke, the Headman was sitting next to Ezra's bed pallet. "Good Afternoon, Ezra. I am Ostork Garns one time Imperial Major of the Empire and now the Headman of this Village." Orstork said as Ezra stared at the older man in first shock then distress. Wondering if the Imperial knew he was a wanted Rebel and Jedi. "Do not fret, I suspect from your expression that you are not a royal citizen of the Empire. It does not matter here. There are at least a couple hundred Imperials here and I can tell you that you are safe. I have been here for almost fifteen years, as have most of the others from the Empire." Ezra sat up and exhaled with some relief. Calming his mind.
"How did you get here and where is here?" Ezra asked and Orstork chuckled. Gesturing all about him with one arm.
"As for the first question, I was part of an Exploring Force sent here to secure this place for an outpost. What remainder of those here are the only survivors of that Force. The Amazons killed all the rest. As for here we are, that is a matter of opinion. One of those is that we are in hell. Others believe it is heaven. It depends on your point of view. Though most call this Planet Amazonia. Which will not help you much, since it is not on any Navigational Charts" Orstork said then smiled. "You see the Amazons are in power here, they are the Ultimate Warriors that hold everyone under their sway. But there are rules that you will have to learn and quickly. For in a few weeks I suspect that they will come to challenge you." This confused Ezra and Orstork laughed lightly.
"Challenge me? What does that mean?" Ezra asked and Orstork leaned forward and shook his head.
"Fight you for possession. To own you for an evening, a week, a month or forever. Basically anything they want. Unfortunately you are the type that they will prize and that means that they will dominate you in the end. Make you into nothing more then a breeder if they decide to use you as one that is. Of course one may decide to possess you forever." Orstork slowly explained the rules of combat and the Possession. Highlighting on the details that if Ezra resisted enough that eventually they would leave him alone. But so far none have been able to remain free for very long. Two weeks later, Ezra faced his first challenger. It was in their rules that only one per day could Fight him for Possession and due to his training with Sabine he was victorious. He was not even sure what the Woman Amazon had looked like, she wore a mask that hide her face. Later he discovered that all the Challengers wore Masks, even those that fought other men for possession. That night Ezra walked out onto the plains which for the moment reminded him of Lothal. Sitting under a nearby tree, he closed his eyes and thought of home. Then his mind wondered to who he actually was missing. Sabine. From what he had learned from Orstork, there was no real technology on the Planet and any hope of leaving was gone. The next day he fought another Challenger. Then another and after the First Three Months he had faced all those willing from the Greens Hills. Next came new ones from the Blue Ocean and then the Red Sands.
"I cannot believe I have been here a whole year." Ezra said to Orstork and one of the other Elders of the Village. While they sat just outside the Village next to a small Fire. Orstork chuckled and shook his head.
"What I cannot believe is that you have not been beaten yet and taken possession of." Orstork stated as he and the other laughed. The two and the other four Elders found it amusing that none of the Amazons had been able to take Ezra yet and that extremely hurt the Warrior Woman's Pride. A man was able to resist and defeat their Warriors and now it had been decided that Ezra Bridger was a high value prize. If any of the Amazon's were able to defeat him, that one would gain a high amount of honor. But Ezra had yet to be defeated.
"He could allow at least one of our Sisters to beat him." Another said and all three stood, bowing to the Ancient looking Woman who smiled and gestured for them to sit. "I am not here in an official capacity, only a concerned Matriarch of my Sisters of the Green Hills." Orstork offered the Elderly Woman his seat and the Old woman sat down with a kind smile. Ezra smirked at her.
"I would allow you to defeat me Grand Milady Folista." Ezra said with a mischievous glint in his expression and the much older woman laughed heartily. Shaking her gray hair back and force. Ezra liked Folista, for one she treated everyone including Males like she was their Grandmother. She was kind and compassionate, tending to find merriment in the fact that none of the Warriors had been able to defeat Ezra. She had told him the real reason for the Challenges. It kept the Amazon Warriors from becoming overly bored with the prospect that unless and invader attacked. They had no one to fight. So the Challenges elevated the stresses of not having someone to fight against. Otherwise one Cloister of Sister might decide to fight another.
"You flatter me too much Ezra. I am old enough to be your Great Great Grandmother and those feelings for intimacy have long been gone from me." Folista said then shook her head again. "Still you could allow at least one of my Sisters to defeat you. Take you to her hut and spend a night of pleasure together." She suggested and Ezra shook his head negatively. "I know you are hoping for the one that you truly desire. Shadene." Ezra smiled.
"No it is Sabine and actually I do not know why I am hoping for that. There is no possible way for us to be together even if she was here, mainly since I doubt she feels anything for me." Ezra stood and after a small bow to Folista he walked away from the Fire. Heading out to the Plains to think and remember Sabine. He missed her immensely, even though he knew he did not stand a chance of being anything more then her comrade and friend. In his heart he loved her and had decided if it was not her then it would be no one. Though he suspected that by this time, she would have chosen someone and married him. Most likely some Mandalorian from another Clan so that her Mother could combine the Clans. Sitting in the Darkness, thinking about that. Ezra let the tears flow down his face.
Lothal: One Year Eight Months Since Ezra's Sacrifice
The argument had been going on for almost an hour and Sabine continued to refuse. Finally her Mother Ursa Wren Countess of their Clan exhaled sharply and glared at her Daughter over the Holonet. "Sabine you need to consider the Future. You need to at least meet with any of these Suitors that have come here to court you." Ursa said and Sabine shook her head.
"No Mother. Offer my apologies or don't. For I do not care, I have no interest in any of them." Sabine replied not saying that the one she was interested in was no longer around. But she suspected her Mother knew that and was attempting to dissuade Sabine into selecting one that was not in her estimates worthy of her Daughters hand. Sabine missed Ezra every second of the day and at night dreamed about him. Cursing herself for not knowing what he intended to do and not stopping him from sacrificing himself. She never realized how much she desired him, not until he was no longer around. She missed his not so subtle attempts at flirtation and she wondered why she had not claimed him before he left. Then she would not be arguing with her Mother on a weekly basis. Declining several Suitors that wanted to court her for no other reason then to Combine the Clans with a Political Marriage. With an aggravated grunt, Ursa closed the channel. Ursa had been tempted to accuse Sabine of waiting for a dead man. For Ezra Bridger had to be dead or he would have been located by now. But did not want to fully dishearten her Daughter. She could see the sadness in Sabine's eyes and would do anything to elevate that despair. Even send out Hunters to locate Ezra Bridger and drop him at Sabine's feet. Demanding that her Daughter take him already and be done with it. Ursa Wren wanted Grandchildren and her patience was running out.
World of the Amazons: Four Years Seven Months
Standing over the defeated Amazon, Ezra inhaled slowly. This one almost beat him, but he was able to once again retain his status of being undefeated. The Woman stood with a growl and stormed off. Grabbing her Spear with her Marking Flag angrily as she mounted her Gorse and rode away. Followed by several of her Sisters. "You almost beat him Sister Amblien." One of the younger Amazon's said and Amblien grunted in response.
"Almost does not get him in my bed." Amblien retorted with disgust that in fact she had come the closest to actually defeating Ezra Bridger. A large portion of her Sisters of the Blue Ocean and those from the other Cloisters were trying repeatedly to defeat and possess him. Unfortunately none have been successful yet. That annoyed her to the point of wanting to dishonor herself and cheat. She wanted Ezra in her bed desperately. None other would suffice. It was him or no one. Though she wondered if it would be cheating to face him naked. Disorient him enough that she could defeat him. With that thought she smiled and rode along with her Sisters.
Watching from the side until Ezra once again was victorious, Orstork turned towards the other Challenges to their conclusion and as the Amazon's led their prizes away towards a nearby hut for a brief time of pleasure or over to their Gorse to take the defeated men back to their Cloister. He returned to Ezra, noticing the younger man staring after the departing Amazon that had just challenged him. Ezra's face showed no real emotion as he watched her and others depart. Some with Men over the saddles of their Gorses.
"You were tempted to let her win." Orstork said in an accusing voice, frowning at the younger man. "Then at the end you changed your mind." Ezra lowered his head and then gave a small nod. Orstork knew the reason Ezra had almost let the Amazon win. The young man was lonely and sorely wanted to be with someone. Even if it was just for a night. Though Ezra knew that none of those that Challenged him would want him just for one night. He was now a symbol of great honor to whoever could defeat him and possess him.
"Yes. I know that she was Amblien." Ezra said with regret. Amblien reminded him of Sabine. Just not in appearance but she closely resembled Sabine and for him it was almost enough to let him relent and be defeated. He wanted Sabine desperately, but it had been almost five years and he wanted to be with someone. To be held by them and perhaps even love them. But his pride would not let him just let any of them just beat him. "But I thought of Sabine at the last moment and I could not just let Amblien beat me." He said with disappointment mostly with himself for being so foolish. He knew if Sabine ever did locate him here, she would never be his. Not due to his choice. But hers, her Mothers and her Clan. Since he was what they would consider to be unworthy to even Court her.
"Someday my Friend, I suspect that you will be defeated and then you will be possessed. Though most of are betting that it would require a very skilled Amazon Warrior to do it." With that Orstork left, he had to check on the Men that had not been Challenged this day. For most of them this was their first day of being considered and about half of them had not been Challenged this time. Mainly due to that they had just reached the age of being thought as a Man and for a young Man that just reached that age. The thought of being possessed was exhilarating. Ezra watched the Headman as he talked to the half dozen young candidates and then turned towards the open plains. Walking over to his favorite tree, he knelt. Deciding to Meditate, focus his thoughts on Sabine and wish he could see her again.
The Search:
Sitting in the Co-Pilot seat of Ashoka's Ship, Sabine's right leg would not remain still. Her knee bounced impatiently and nervously as she waited for Ashoka to plot the next navigational course for the Search Pattern. They had been at this for about four days and still no luck. From the Ghost's sensor logs, they had a direction and from there they used basic calculations on how long a Purgill would remain in Hyperspace at a time. That took some time to discover some old Research about the Purgills that some Scientist had published when he and his team studied the Space Faring Creatures. With that information, she and Ashoka had a path and now all they needed to do is find where it was possible for Ezra to have gone. "You need to relax Sabine. This still will take some time." Ashoka advised, looking over at Sabine and she attempted to stop her knee from bouncing anxiously up and down.
"I know, I just miss him so much." Sabine said, leaning back so that she was fully against the seat. For the past five hours her back had barely touched it as she glared out the front Viewport wanting to see some sign of the Chimeara or Ezra.
"The question is; what will you do once we do find him?" Ashoka asked with a small smirk, knowing exactly what the young Mandalorian Woman intended to do and it involved customary Wedding Vows. She suspected that Sabine was regretting not doing that long before now. Believing that she had time and that Ezra would always be around. Then when he disappeared Sabine realized that it was not true. So Ashoka believed the second Sabine finds Ezra then she was not going to chance him escaping her again. Sabine did not turn towards her and Ashoka could see the tint of red appear on the human girl's face.
"Well I can tell you one thing, he will not be disappearing on me again." Sabine replied removing his Lightsaber from her belt and after twisting the end of the hilt, she palmed a small wafer sized device into her hand. Ashoka stared at it with wide eyes. "Once before Kanan had me put a tracer in something of Ezra's. I decided afterwards to do it with his Lightsaber." She admitted then winkled her nose. "I never expected that Ezra would leave his Lightsaber behind. No next time I plan on putting one where he cannot leave a tracer behind again." She said with a small smile.
"What are you going to do? Inject him with one?" Ashoka asked and Sabine just smiled, returning the tracer to the Lightsaber and reattaching the hilt. She had not told Ashoka that she also planned on making Ezra hers permanently and that meant the Mandalorian Wedding Vows. Even if her Mother did not approve, Ezra was going to be hers. Deep within her thoughts she did not hear Ashoka inhale sharply. "Sabine! I think the Sensors are picking up something!" The Togruta said with a huge smile. Pointing to a small indicator that lite on the Screen, showing where an Imperial Escape Pod had landed. The World was green, brown, blue and had white mountain tops. The sensors showed no determinable technology. Though both knew that did mean that it was Ezra, but so far it had been the only one they had found so far and knowing Ezra he would get off the Chimaera any way possible at the first stop the Purgills made.
"Do you feel him?" Sabine asked hoping that Ashoka could sense him with the Force. The Togruta closed her eyes and concentrated. Then shook her head.
"No. But that does not mean anything. We might be too far away for me to detect him." Ashoka replied, reaching towards the controls and aiming her Red Ship towards the Planet. "Even if it is not Ezra, perhaps whoever was in the Escape Pod might have an idea where the Chimaera went from here. A direction or something." She said attempting to give Sabine some measure of hope. When the Ship landed, the two were surprised to find themselves surrounded by a large group of Armored Woman riding Two Legged Lizards. To the visitors relief the Woman Warriors were not hostile towards them. Basically because both were Woman and all Women were welcome on Amazonia.
The Challenge: The Defeat of Ezra Bridger
Walking with reluctance, Ezra made his way to the Challenge. When he came closer to what was his Marker, he noticed a new Spear stuck in the Ground indicating that another wanted to Challenge and gain possession of him. He was tired of this, it had been the same for almost the past 5 years and none of the Challengers had been able to defeat him. In some ways he wished that the Amazon Challengers would no longer try and just leave him alone. But Orstork and Folista was right, to the Challengers it would give the Possessor great Honor to defeat him. Approaching the Circle of Stones, he exhaled and gazed across at the shorter Amazon and he chuckled. She was a new one, not one of those that had come before. He could recognize most of the Amazon Challengers even when they wore a Mask. This one was not someone he had faced before. Though for some reason this one seemed familiar to him. Mostly from the way she stood. Shaking the feelings of familiarity from his mind he prepared himself once again to defeat the Challenger. With a small smirk. "I hope you will not be disappointed when I beat you." Ezra said to the stranger and she did not reply. Waiting for the Contest to begin.
(Anyone want to guess who the Amazon Stranger is?)
To be continued