Beyond the Rim
Book 1
Chapter 10: The City
The crew walked along a trail up a steep hill, Hera was at Kanan's side watching the compass as it began to glow brighter and brighter, pointing straight in the direction of the trail.
The others struggled trying to lug the speeders and supplied up hill. "This is getting tiring!" Grunted Zeb. He hauled one of the speeders by himself, leaving Sabine, Ezra, and Chopper working together trying to push the other up the incline.
Hera turned back and encourage the others. "Don't worry, it looks like the top is just a few feet away."
Hera and Kanan continued the steady stroll up the hill while the others gave it their all to push the speeders. All their might was put forth, the smell of burning rubber from Chopper's treads filled the air, gentle cold breezes of air cooled the sweat the three had accumulated, but eventually, the ground in front of them had turned flat, they had reached the top of the hill.
The three specters flopped themselves on the ground to catch their breaths and cool down. It did not take them long to realize Hera and Kanan were looking on the other side of the of the hill, in silence.
Ezra brought himself to his feet and walked towards them. "Hera, Kanan, is everything alright?"
Ezra turned his head in the direction they were staring, and he could not believe his eyes.
It was the biggest city he has ever seen. Bridges, skyscrapers, airships, and the glistening of glass in the sunlight showed in an amazing display in front of them.
Sabine, Zeb, and Chopper came by their sides as well to also stand in awe. Kanan looked down at the Compass, the glowing needle pointed directly to the city.
"This is it." Kanan said. "This is where Master Khan is."
Ezra pulled out a pair of macro binoculars and examined the city. "It looks like there are thousands of people and vehicles down there."
Sabine looked out towards the ocean. "It looks like they got a naval blockade out there two. And I bet those airships are military as well."
Kanan grinned. "Then you'll be happy to know he won't probably be on one of those boats."
Zeb made his way over to his pack, he pulled out two vials of the disguise spell. "These look like the last two, let's make them count Hera."
Hera took the vial and opened the top cork and proceed to dump the powder over her head.
Kanan slowly moved the compass across the horizon of the city, it appeared to be pointing towards the epicenter, downtown.
The crew made their way through the outer limits of the city, it looked a lot like the communal apartment blocks of Lothal, only the ones on Lothal looked better kept, the buildings here looked run-down, paint was pealing off the wall, and people lined the streets, walking in any direction, and some selling sweet or salty foods.
A young boy came up to Hera, looking up at her. "Ma'am do you think you can buy one of our flowers?"
Hera's eyes looked towards a flower stand. There was an elderly woman, her arms were covered in wraps used for wounds, and she was surrounded by other even younger children.
Hera felt sympathy for the family, she reached into one of her pockets and pulled out one of the coins they had. "I'll take one please."
The young boy took the coin and rushed back to the elderly woman and showed it to her, the boy then grabbed one of the flowers and made his way back to Hera. "Thank you, ma'am." The boy joyfully said, handing the flower to Hera.
Hera took the flower and smiled, she made her way over to the others, she decided to put the flower in over the ear as she saw most girls did here.
Zeb looked around seeing mostly young boys, women, and children. "There's not a single grown man here."
A soldier standing guard at a corner overheard Zeb's comment and made his way over to him. "All these people are refugees from the war, the reason why there are hardly any men here is because they either got captured by the enemy or enlisted in the army to try to liberate their homes."
Zeb looked around at the structures. "Can't you people afford to fix the place up? They can't live in these conditions."
The soldier looked up at the buildings with pity, "This was once a well-off neighborhood development, no one would buy homes here, when refugees started pouring in the King issued a purchase order to give these people homes. Then the front lines just keep getting closer and about a month ago they are in bombing range of the city. The damage and worn-down state of this place is all damage from incendiary bombs."
Zeb looked closer and he began to notice some of the paint was scorched by fire, and some of the holes did look like something heavy fell though.
"I work on one of the anti-aircraft stations just on top of that building." the soldier boasted. "We try our best to preserve a place for these folks to live. Its either here under threat, or in the crime burroughs."
"Crime burroughs?" Sabine questioned.
The soldier nodded. "Somehow, they are able to fend off aircraft better then we can, and repair the damage to buildings unlike our budget, mainly because they overcharge their debtors with inflated housing prices. Take my advice, keep away from those areas."
The soldier then went back to his post, as the rebels continued to push into the heart of downtown.
There was a vast difference between the refugees part of the city to downtown; shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues lined the streets, they also noticed, rather then soldiers in blue long coats and caps patrolling the streets, there were now men in black jackets, silver badges, and large white wide circular brim hats, armed with the six round pistols they have commonly seen.
Kanan tried not to make eye contact as he realized they were staring at them. "I think the sheriffs over there are feeling a bit uneasy about us."
Ezra looked over his shoulder and briefly caught a glimpse of them men, one of them was walking towards them now.
"he's following us now." Whispered Ezra.
"Pardon me." Called out the deputy.
The whole Ghost crew froze and turn around, trying not to act suspicious.
"Can we help you?" nervously asked Kanan.
"Yes," said the deputy. "Identifications, and weapons permits, please."
Kanan only got more nervous. "We- We're refugees, we just arrived today."
The officer looked them up and down. "You should have received a refugee identification at the port."
Hera butted in. "Our son must have dropped them, he's clumsy at times."
The officer looked into Ezra's eyes, trying to look childly innocent as possible.
"Those scars." The officer said, looking closely at the two lightsaber cuts Ezra got from the Grand Inquisitor. "An Imperial soldier must have failed his bayonet drills. I'll get you guys and escort back to the port to get new ID's."
Kanan gave a silent sigh of relief.
The officer walked over to a black and white car and reached inside for a round piece with a cable coming out at the end. He began to speak into the object and soon put it down.
"So, where are you from?" asked the officer.
"Lothal." Ezra blurted out, only to stop to realize his error.
The officer just shrugged. "There are a lot of small countries the empire seems to be running over that I never heard of."
"You have no idea." Hera said mournfully.
All of a sudden, they heard the sound of dripping, they realized it was raining. And the disguise spell was beginning to wash off of Hera and Zeb.
"Sorry we- we got to go!" shouted Kanan.
They began to run towards where they thought they could shelter themselves, but the officer began to follow them. "Wait, what's going on?" he cried out.
The crew turned into an alley way, but it was far to late to salvage the disguise spell, it had all washed off. The officer turned the corner and stood in shock and horror to see a green woman with snakes coming out of her head, and a big hairy purple creature. The officer slowly backed out of the alley. And bolted towards his car. He reached in and grabbed the device he held earlier. "I NEED BACK UP, NOW!" he screamed.
Sirens began to blare across the city, converging towards the rebels. Kanan began to dash out of the alley. "Come on!" he shouted towards the others. The citizens who saw Hera and Zeb ran in terror. The crew had realized that their options for escape had run out.
Cars came from both side of the streets, and blocked the road, officers exited their vehicles, and surrounded them.
"Do not resist, we're taking you into custody for questioning."
Zeb slowly began to reach for his bo-rifle. Kanan looked at Zeb and began to nod is disapproval. But Zeb disagreed "I'll hold them off, go find your friend."
Zeb then activated his bo-rifle and charged towards a group of officers, knocking them out and giving a clearing for the others to escape. The other crew members took the opening, and Zeb fought back any of the officers trying to pursue them, he soon found himself surrounded and feeling officers dog-piling themselves on top of him, putting his arms behind his back, and restraining him with binders.
The others ran as fast as they could. But they heard the sirens blare louder and closer from behind. Kanan drew his blaster and fired at the vehicles hitting one of its wheels, causing it to spin and crash into a light post.
"Hostile has a firearm, all deputies, weapons free, I repeat, weapons free."
The officers in the passenger seats leaned out and pulled out their revolvers and began to fire back.
Hera and Chopper were falling behind, Hera soon drew her blaster and turned to stand her ground, she began firing at the cars that approached, switching to stun as the men drew closer and closer.
Kanan tried to turn around and stop her, but she just shouted "Run!"
The words penetrated Kanan's heart, but soon a bullet ricocheting near hear snapped him out of his past and back towards Sabine and Ezra. Chopper went all out, stealing officers' clubs and hitting them as they came towards him. But suddenly, he realized there was an electrical weapon shorting him out into shutdown mode. Hera turned, to see a man in black, a blue vest, grizzled face hidden behind a brown beard, and a black large brim hat, he was wearing a pack that had electrical batteries and cables that lead to two swords, electrifying them.
"Inquisitor Bainer sir, we had the situation under control." Motioned one of the officers.
He simply grunted. "Go find the last three, take the other three to the downtown jail on charges of resisting arrest and assault with deadly weapons."
Kanan, Ezra, and Sabine rushed their way down an alley. Kanan suddenly stopped in his tracks. "No!" he stated. Sabine and Ezra turned around in confusion. "I'm not leaving her like I left my Master."
Kanan reached for his lightsaber and put the two pieces together. The then turned towards Ezra and Sabine. "Go find somewhere to hide, and find Master Khan, tell him you know Master Depa Billaba."
Ezra tried to stand with Kanan. "I'm not leaving you Kanan."
Kanan teared up. "I know you'll find me Ezra, remember your training, and good luck."
Sabine grabbed Ezra's shoulder and the two continued to walk their way down the alley, as Kanan stood firm, ready to repel what will come his way. Eventually, he heard the clicking of spurs, that man who stopped Hera came around the corner. "My name is Jacob Bainer, his royal highnesses' Inquisition of security. You're under arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, and just the general questioning of where you are really from."
Kanan activated his lightsaber. "You'll have to face me."
Bainer looked curiously at Kanan's weapon. "A Light Saber, if I'm familiar."
"You know this weapon?" Kanan asked.
Bainer nodded "I've known five people who carry a weapon just like that, and two of them I have killed." Bainer then drew his two swords, they sparked with static shock as he swung them around. "For your sake, you better know how to wield it."
Sabine and Ezra rushed their way down an alley, only to find it as a dead end. They then heard the clashing of lightsabers and static electricity. The battle sounded fierce, but then then heard a loud buzz, that was then engulfed by the painful cries of their leader.
The two began to panic, trying to find a way out, they looked up, but the walls offered no way of climbing, and the clothes lines were to fragile to support their weight. They could hide in a trash disposal bin, but Ezra had a stroke of genius. "Sabine." He said, "I got a plan."
In a mater of minuets, The Bainer and two officers turned the corner, the alley was empty, clothes were out to dry, and there was a large trash bin. Bainer squinted his eyes at the trash bin and put his ear up to it, he heard something rustle inside. He slowly reached for his revolver with one hand and put his other hand on the latch of the bin.
He then jerked the latch opened and pointed his gun at the culprit.
"Meow" cried out the creature.
Bainer lowered his weapon. One of the officers looked over Bainer's shoulder and chuckled. "Should we arrest it for being an accessory to the crime."
Bainer let out a sigh of disapproval. "Expand the search permitted, tell the others that they look like human but dress far differently from us. I'm heading back to the Downtown jail to see if I can see where in the name of the Dragons these strangers and monsters come from."
The officers and Inquisitor departed from the alley way, Ezra peaked out from under a sewer hatch, and pulled himself out. He was no longer wearing his orange jumpsuit and jacket, instead he found a grey vest and shirt, and lighter grey pants and a small knot tie. "Come on Sabine." He called out quietly.
He suddenly saw a red fabric with shoot up from out of the sewer hole, and grabbed it before it could fall in. "I'm not wearing that Ezra. Besides, these pants that came with the outfit seem to be good enough for me." Sabine emerged from the hole, she was wearing bright scarlet button down blouse a white button-down shirt underneath, white shorts, and long black socks.
"Let's go." She motioned, the two made their way out of the alley and back onto the street, but Ezra realized everyone was still staring at them in horror, but not as bad as when they saw Hera and Zeb in their true form, suddenly, a military officer approach them. The two stood deathly still. And prepared for the worse.
Her looked At Sabine directly. "You thought no one would notice?" Sabine did not respond. "We have dress laws here, and no matter how hot it is we recommend you put on a skirt or proper pants then go prancing around in public in your underwear."
Sabine blushed a hard red, she the reached for the skirt piece she tossed to Ezra and began to put it on, Ezra still looking at the military officer. When Sabine and finished putting on the skirt, the military officer nodded. "Don't let this happen again, if the law caught you it would be a heavy crown fine."
The military officer parted ways with them and continue to walk down the road.
Ezra sighed. "That could have gone much worse."
"Worse!?" Grunted Sabine, she pinned Ezra against the wall and looked him dead in the eye. "We're separated from the others, the entire city is looking for us, our only hope is in Master Khan, and worst of all, I'm wearing a dress!"
Sabine eased off Ezra and took a great step forward only to trip forward and fall face first on the ground. She picked herself up and lifted the skirt to where she could see where she was stepping.
Inquisitor Bainer made his way to the detention cells of the jail, Hera, Zeb, Kanan, and Chopper were restrained. They looked at Bainer has he entered. He then spoke. "You are outsiders, are you not?"
Zeb laughed. "No, were from a small island where people are green and purple, and we eat fruit that taste like candy." He said sarcastically. But Bainer did not seem to be amused.
"We found this among your belongings, two gold Crowns, twenty silver Crowns, and forty-two brass Crowns. It seems you know the monetary system, or you stole it."
Kanan spoke up. "Or someone who believed us gave it to us that we could buy food and lodging."
Bainer leaned in on Kanan, "And who is this individual wo was so generous to give possible enemies of the state cash."
"We're not your enemy." Hera called out.
"Right…" he suspiciously said. "Three thousand gold Crowns worth of property damage to city and private property. If you hadn't resisted arrest, we would have had a nice clam conversation over coffee and doughnuts."
"You said you've know five people who carried a lightsaber, you know their names?"
Bainer then leaned in on Kanan and smiled, "if you answer my questions, I'll answer yours."
Kanan closed his eyes and spoke. "We're from another plant, perhaps another galaxy, fighting against an intergalactic empire, the only reason we are here is to find another person who wields a lightsaber to fight back."
"Is that so?" Bainer questioned. Kanan simply nodded. "The three men still out there are Allen Green, a resistance fighter against Augustus' Empire, A private collector in the United Republic named Stephen Bishop, and there is one in the Wizards Council in the Newshire province three hundred miles north east of here. The two others I killed was a common thief named Hiroshi Gates, and some a higher-level thief named Adam Thompson." He stated. "Now, tell me, who has been helping you sneak around our country?"
Sabine and Ezra kept walking down the street, the rain had let up and nighttime was approaching. "We should probably find some lodging." Ezra sighed
Sabine began to look at the signs in confusion. "I don't have my notes, I have no clue what those signs say."
Ezra then saw a vehicle, it was yellow, with a black and white checker stripe. "I'm no linguist or an anthropologist, but I think that's a taxi."
Ezra made his way over to the vehicle, and knocked on the window, startling the man up from his sleep. "Are you on duty?" he asked?
The man inside yawned rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, where do you need to go kid?"
Ezra just though. "Some place where we can stay for the night and get a hot meal or something."
The man unlocked the doors and Ezra made his way into the back seat. Sabine tried to squeeze her dress though as it attempted to obstruct her entry. The driver looked back in curiosity. "I take it this is your first night out lovebirds?"
Ezra and Sabine looked at each other, awkwardly blushing. "Well-uh, no, we are not dating, I mean does this look like a date, it is her first time wearing a dress so…"
The driver just lifted his hand and stopped Ezra from talking. "I think I know where to take you."
The man pulled out into the road and started to drive though the town. "You're in luck you get to see so much light before they turn it off for the night-raid."
Ezra stared out the window. "It's beautiful."
The driver believed the two kids would not talk of the rest of night and turned on a radio. It sounded a lot like the holonet news, but more honest, and transparent, the reporter even mentioned there was a chance that their country might lose the war and could sue for peace with the Empire.
"Sounds like something to look forward to dread for." Sabine said sarcastically
The driver shrugged. "Just because there are a bunch of stealth subs off the coast torpedoing shipping, and aerial attacks each night doesn't mean it's not over yet, I've seen worse before."
The vehicle began to slow down, Sabine looked out as the vehicle began to approach a bright red wooden arched gateway, much like the Ming Po's on Carlac. But something was different, the Ming Po used their architecture to symbolize peace, this one was used as a check point, and rather then soldiers, it looked like it was a militia, perhaps armed more heavily then all the soldiers they had seen on their journey so far.
The driver opened his windows and handed his credentials to the man at the gate, the man looked back at him. "You should not have come here; Master Chan has been talking about making you pay for pay off the debt today."
The driver took his credentials back. "Hey, Kai, listen, radio ahead to Master Chan, and tell him I have just enough money to pay him off today, just tell him to meet me at the inn."
The man shrugged and spoke in a language that was not basics or interpretable by the two rebels, but a gate arm blocking the entrance to the community opened up and the driver drove his car in.
"Where are we exactly?" Ezra questioned.
"the Red Dragon's Burroughs." The driver responded.
Ezra leaned forward in his seat. "Isn't this one of the crime Burroughs?"
"Yep." He answered. "Chan Song controls this entire area of real estate and operates one of the biggest crime rings in the Kingdom Alliance."
"What kind of crime?" Sabine questioned
"Smuggling mainly guns to resistance factions and contraband goods to the people in the west, and he smuggles contraband goods from the United Republic and the Empire here. He also runs all the real estate in this area, owns a prestigious inn, restaurant, and supports his mother's bakery as legitimate businesses."
He pulled the taxi to the curb, right in front of the prestigious inn. "Twenty-six brass Crows is your total."
Ezra reached into his pockets and pulled out three brass Crowns. The friendly smile was replaced with fear on the driver's face. He then turned forward, and threw his face on the steering wheel, activating the horn, and startling all the nearby civilians. He then picked up his head and sighed. "Welp, I'm here anyways, time to make my last night memorable." He remarked. He got out of the cab and walked right in.
Ezra and Sabine got out of the cab, and walked in, the place was prestigious, the walls were magnificently painted, the ceilings had the imagery of dragons flying around the sky, the decoration was gold, red and jade, it was clear that this Master Chan had been a successful man in both crime and legitimate business. They saw the driver at the bar. "My usual." He sobbed.
Ezra and Sabine made their way to the counter. "We'll have what he's having."
The barkeep looked down at them. "Aren't you a little young to be ordering this stuff?"
Sabine rolled her eyes, just like Hera, she though. The barkeep went under the counter and pulled out two bottles and popped off the caps. "Sarsaparilla's for the kids. One and a half brass Crowns please."
Ezra pulled out two of the three brass Crowns they had and gave it to the barkeep, they pulled the open bottles towards himself and Sabine, and the two began drinking the contents of the bottle.
They looked over at the driver, who just downed a tiny glass of liquid, he was clearly uneasy and nervous. But something felt oddly familiar about him. Sabine could not feel it, but Ezra felt like he knew this man, but before he had the chance to ask, three men in dark suits surrounded him.
"The master would like to see you." One of them grunted.
The driver raised his hands. "Khole, Lee, Thomas, good to see you all here, Tell Chan there's been a complication- "
"Why don't you tell me yourself!" called out a man. The atmosphere in the restaurant went dead silent. There approached a man in a dark suit, with fancy highlights, a golden pocket watch, red tie with gold decoration, a bowler cap, and a frustrated expression across his face. He was the Master Chan the two Rebels have been hearing about. "The boys told me you said you had the money at the gate." He called out.
The driver's anxiety picked up as he tried to squeeze himself out of the situation. "Well, that's the funny part, I thought I had the money, but-"
Chan had made his approach closer and struck the Driver on the face. "Take him to my office, now!" he barked. "John Khan will pay of his insolence this night."
Sabine and Ezra suddenly realize that driver was Master Khan the whole time.
Master Chan turned to all the patrons of the restaurant. "Forgive the disturbance, for a show of good hospitality, desert or the next round of drinks is on the house."
The atmosphere of the restaurant returned to normal, as Chan began to make his way to an elevator. Sabine and Ezra saw this as their only chance, they bolted from their seats and blocked Chan's path.
The crime lord looked down on the two young rebels. "Is there something I can help you with tonight?"
"Yes, we are wondering what our uncle has done now?" Ezra stated.
Chan was confused, he looked up at John. "You never said you had a nephew or Niece."
John chuckled. "There's a lot you don't know about me."
Chan looked at the two and back at John. "Come with us." He motioned Ezra and Sabine to the Elevator, the three stepped inside, Sabine saw the pistols under the men's suit jackets as they closed the doors and pressed the buttons to activate the elevator.
They passed three other floors before the Elevator stopped, the guards opened the door, and escorted them down the hall to a set of sliding doors.
The room was made with fine woodwork, training equipment, and to the side of the room, Ezra saw a shrine, with a golden sword, he quietly slowed his pace to get out of eyesight, once he was cleared, he made his way towards the sword.
The craftsmanship looked highly detailed, from the handle it looked like a dragon was breathing out fire and the blade. But more then that, Ezra swore he heard voices, calling out from the sword itself. He reached out his hand to grab the handle, only for the Chan to break him from the trance. "Please, do not touch that. That sword is a family heirloom and is older than time itself."
Ezra retreated his hands. "Sorry, it's just, I felt- never mind." He walked back towards the group, as they entered another set of sliding doors. Behind those doors was an office, books, filing cabinets, statues, and paperwork was all around the office, on the wall to the side was a full map of the planet, and behind the desk was a fancy chair, and a view of the city from a large open terrace.
Chan walked behind the desk and sat down in the chair. The two guards brought John to his knees, and brought his head up to look at Master Chan.
"For nine years John, you have pushed back your rent, taken loans and mortgages, promising to pay them all back one day."
John stuttered a bit. "W-wait, you're calling in a-all the debts. Today was the deadline for the apartment."
Chan shrugged. "The apartment rent was due four years ago, but you kept trying to give me a portion and took twice the interest in penalty. And let's not forget them loans for maintaining your taxicab, electricity, gas, and water bills, the occasional need for groceries, and several other listed as 'recreational.' What do you have to say for yourself?"
John was trying to find excuses. But Sabine raised her voice. "How much does he owe you?"
Chan looked at Sabine and pulled up one of the papers. "Thirty Gold Crowns. Why do ask?"
Sabine stood confidently. "Our parents may have enough to pay off the debt, they are out of the city tonight, but if you give us one day, we can pay you in full before tomorrow night."
Chan took a moment. He then got up from his chair and approach John. "You are lucky their parents dumped them off with you tonight. Thirty gold Crowns, or I'll have to take one more loan with your name on it for the tombstone engraver."
Chan motioned to his guards, the men lifted John off the ground and back on his feet. John dusted off the dirt off his knees and made his way towards the door, Ezra and Sabine followed, glancing back at Chan, he almost reminded them of Vizago, only twice as terrifying.
The three reached the street, John turned to the two kids. "Who are you, and why did you stick your necks out for me?"
"You are Jon Khan, right?" Ezra questioned. "My master, Kanan Jarrus know you, we need your help."
"Don't know a Kanan Jarrus, kid." John said sheepishly. He began to make his way into his cab when Sabine recalled what Kanan also said.
"He knows Master Depa Billaba." She blurted out.
Khan just was about to step in when he froze solid, his gaze would not leave Sabine, soon he responded. "Get in the car."
The cab drove down the road, amidst all the neon signage and traffic. Khan looked like this was the happiest day of his life. "I can't believe, they actually got the message. Which one of you is a jedi?"
"I am." Ezra announced triumphantly. "Kanan is my master."
Khan was a bit confused. "I don't recall ever meeting a jedi named Jarrus at the Temple."
"Well, his master is Depa Billaba." Ezra responded.
Khan was even more confused. "No, her padawan was a nice kid by the name of Caleb Dume. How are they anyways? How is everyone?"
Sabine looked at Ezra, giving nods of disapproval. Ezra agreed with Sabine, it was far to early for John to learn the truth. "It's a long story, for another time." He quietly said, hoping John would not notice the change in his tone of voice.
John did not seem to notice the dread in Ezra's voice, and pressed his next question. "At least tell me no one tampered with my room."
Sabine tried to think of a subtle way of trying to explain it. "Some old hag might have moved into your space when you disappeared."
John took a moment to think, then slammed his fist on the steering wheel. "Jocasta! Make too much noise in her library and she'll find a way to get even."
The cab took a turn into a lot, an apartment lot. John parked the Cab and went to one of the doors of the building. Once the door was opened, Ezra and Sabine entered. It was a lot more spacious on the inside, and it was relatively cozy and well kept, almost like Kanan's room on the Ghost.
Master Khan was in a small closet off the side, he began to pry at the wall, removing a precut piece, revealing a secret stash of weapons, he laid all the weapons before the rebels on the floor, and sat down to inspect some of the weapons.
Sabine began to admire on the assortments of blaster rifles, pistols both from their galaxy and this planet. Ezra was looking at the Jedi gear, the utility belt, remains of a tattered jedi robe, and his lightsaber.
Ezra picked up Khan's lightsaber, and ignited the blade, it was a bright magnificent blue just like his and Kanan's. John watched as Ezra admired his lightsaber, once Ezra seemed to have enough John noted. "I was quite versed with a lightsaber, but my skill was in marksmanship, it's a tradition that has run in my family for a long time, and not even the jedi order could try to server that connection, and they tried." He turned to Sabine. "And what about you? You don't seem the jedi type."
Sabine smiled. "I'm a Mandalorian, we're part of a crew Ezra and I, and four others."
Khan all of a sudden was catching on to something. "Wait, if Ezra, and this Kanan Jarrus are Jedi, what are they doing with a crew, isn't the war still going on, or is it over?"
Ezra put down the lightsaber, and dreadfully replied; "It ended fifteen years ago."
John cracked a huge smile. "So the Republic won!"
Sabine interrupted. "Actually, this is where things get complicated."
Khan leaned in, the smile gone, and listening closely. As Sabine spoke.
"Palpatine declared himself Emperor and turned the Republic into the Galactic Empire. He declared the Jedi as enemies and had all if not the vast majority of them all killed."
John was dead silent, tears running down his eyes. "Master Billaba, and Caleb?"
Ezra spoke trying to be respectful and careful in his tone; "Kanan told me his master was gunned down by their own clones."
John took a moment, he sat up and began to walk to a room off to the side and closed the door behind him.
Ezra got up and tried to enter the room, but it was locked. He looked to see if Sabine had ideas, but she had begun to look around the apartment, especially with the black and white pictures on the wall. She noticed Ezra was watching him. "He just needs time to make peace with what has happened." She said. "Give him a few hours. We should probably get some rest and get myself out of this dress."
Ezra made his way over to a chair, and sat himself down, his thoughts began to wander on Zeb, Hera, Chopper, and Kanan.
The cell door open, Inquisitor Bainer walked out triumphantly from the cell. He faced the guard at the door. "Alert the King first thing in the morning, he is going to want to see this."
The guard looked at the rebels inside, they had expressions of guilt, anguish, and sorrow, she turned back to Bainer and asked. "Why does the King need to get involved?"
Bainer cracked a sinister grin. "This will change the course of our history forever."
The cell door closed, as the rebels remained inside, hoping for rescue to come.