Imperial Academy: A Star Wars Rebels Story;

Chapter VI: Through Imperial Eyes (Part I)

Characters: Sabine Wren, Ezra Bridger, Kannan Jarrus, Hera Syndulla, C1-10P (Chopper), Garazeb 'Zeb' Orrellios, Agent Alexander Kallus, The Inquisitor, Gar Saxon

Ships: Sabezra, Hints of Kanera, for now

Disclaimer:

I do not own Star Wars. I am but a humble fan, may Disney, who may soon be the entertainment overlords please spare me their wrath and lawsuits, I wouldn't have much to give them anyway.


Review Response;

So I'd just like to thank everyone for your time and care when it comes to this story or any of them!

PegasusSabre - No problem, I'm glad you're enjoying it and that you think its well written. Hopefully you won't have to wait as long after this one for the next update!

The penguin5030 - From here on out I hope to update this story at least every month until I've gotten it all out! That said the Release Day will vary.

Anonymous Noob the 2nd - I'm glad, I hope you like the next one as well!

SadMeatBag - Acquainting is probably the most accurate word for it. What did you miss? Is there anything I can clear up?

Yo - I will be continuing. Thank you very much for the compliment.


Dormitory 5, Imperial Academy

Sabine knew if she was caught she could get a court martial. Still she tapped out her commands on the controls. The holo-projector pulled up the recording from Ketsu's escape. In the darkness the harsh glow was hard to look out, but every detail was picked out more. Sabine had reconstructed the footage, something no one on Saxon's staff wouldn't be capable of. Even when off the recorders create a special log with a backdoor access and memory system. She watched Ezra come in to defend her and force Ketsu out without risking his exposure too much. But now she knew. This was the evidence Saxon wanted… she could have her project back… her project that could kill Mandalorians. But Ezra was Jetti, he was the enemy… or was he?

Sabine didn't sleep much after her impromptu research, and she kept it locked away on her personal comm's storage. If Viceroy Saxon found her hiding it a court martial would be the least of her concerns. Sabine stirred from sleep just before revelry. Her face was marred by deep circles beneath her eyes, not that anyone would know with her helmet shoved down over her head. She stopped beside Ezra's bunk, he was already dressed and had a helmet in his hands.

"What is it?" Ezra's gaze flitted from the helmet to Sabine and back again. His blue eyes almost looked frosted, like water might pool in the corners at any minute.

"Just some old memories." Ezra shoved the helmet onto his head and turned away before Sabine could push further. Her hand reached, unbidden, towards him. Her fingers curled back into a fist and fell back to her side. It just didn't make sense, one minute he was a jokester, the next serious… and then there were these moments when he was quiet. Why couldn't he be the enemy she wanted and make this easy for her. A puff of breath forced itself past her lips and she followed him.

The day passed quickly, but her thoughts lingered throughout. Ezra had saved her. He'd framed Ketsu. More important than either of those, was why was he here in the first place, and why did that mean he should help her? Sabine didn't have an answer. As she readied for bed her eyes narrowed on the blue haired boy. If she couldn't puzzle it out, then perhaps it was time to take the direct approach, her favourite.


The Viceroy's Office

Sabine walked into the room. Her footsteps felt far too loud as she looked on. Viceroy Saxon still sat at his desk. Something about that made her worry. She glanced right and caught sight of Captain Hark waiting right next to the door. Sabine refocused, her gaze forward she took a single breath and moved to stand right before The Viceroy's Desk.

Saxon's eyes tracked up from the typing he was doing to her. Sabine didn't need to be a Jedi to see the way his lips curled downward, or how his features were set in stone. Sabine had failed, she just had to hope that Saxon wouldn't blame her for that failure.

"Cadet Wren, I must say I'm less than pleased in regards to your current task. Cadet Bridger is still here, I have no idea if that is because of his skills or your tutoring, or some combination of both and luck. I do commend your dedication to teaching your Bridger, but the goal was not to help him succeed. So what further progress have you made?" Sabine stared straight ahead. She could end this right now. Sell Bridger out and she would be done with this nightmare. But that would mean betraying someone who had saved her life, and that was dishonourable… Sabine straightened her back ever so slightly more and looked past Saxon, out the window to the rest of Sundari.

"My apologies sir, but I haven't made much progress. I've tried pushing Bridger's buttons like I was at the beginning but he isn't rising to the bait like he did before. My attempts to pry about the incident with K- Cadet Onyo haven't worked either. I believe that Bridger has come to the conclusion that I am not someone he can trust. I will try again though sir." The Viceroy nodded.

"Thank you for your report Cadet Wren. You're dismissed." Sabine snapped a short salute, spun on the ball of her foot and marched for the door.

As she left Captain Hark stepped up to where she had been before. He glanced at the door, it hissed shut and he looked back at Saxon. The older Mandalorian had swivelled his chair and watched the craft and people as they moved through Sundari.

"What do you think Captain Hark?"

"She's good. She wants to do the job right, but Cadet Wren is a warrior and weapons designer. Her skillset in this is woefully inadequate. If she does ferret out Cadet Bridger it will be through a mix of luck and determination." Hark restrained himself from any movement that might reveal himself. Saxon had made a poor choice assigning Cadet Wren to this task.

"If I call The Inquisitorius they would deal with Cadet Bridger quickly, but that would draw upper echelon Imperial eyes. I want to avoid that. The Traitor Bo-Katan is still at large and I fear she might take a chance to attack us should we show even the slightest hint of weakness."

"Viceroy, the longer this… aruetii… stays here the longer he has to make a move against us or worse, actually succeed." Saxon waved his hand in dismissal. Hark nodded and turned.

"I have heard you Captain. I respect your opinion and will keep it in consideration as I prepare to move forward. Now leave me." Hark followed Cadet Wren's footsteps out of the office, he could only hope Viceroy Saxon would make the right choice.


Restricted Access Imperial Archives, Sundari

Ezra glanced at the file system. Each file name that came across the screen wasn't the one he wanted or needed. Though he had to admit he was curious as to what Project: STARDUST was, sadly there wasn't a local file for him to access. He had been warned that it was some kind of weapon prototype, not really a lot to go off of. His eyes stopped, and skimmed back up. He felt a tug in The Force as he stared at Project: DUCHESS.

It didn't look like much, just another standard Imperial project. Some kind of advanced walker prototype. However as Ezra's eyes skimmed the description his jaw dropped. A weapon, an Arc generator. But it was programmed so that it could target the alloys that made up different armour plating. It would destabilise the chemical makeup and destroy the metal, and whatever was attached to it. This would destroy any Mandalorian warrior, and if harnessed correctly would be more than a threat to starships. This weapon could be the end of any resistance against the Empire, regardless of what planet they call home. It was made by Sabine Wren.

Ezra quickly made a copy of the data and returned the workstation to its low power state. There wasn't anything more he could get from here. The bulk of the files on Project: DUCHESS weren't here. Ezra knew of only one place a person like Saxon would trust such information, on his personal Star Destroyer.

Right as he reached the door a voice echoed through. Ezra's gaze reached up and with a flick of his wrist the vent opened above him. He pulled on The Force and pushed off the ground. He was in the vent, and the grate closed as the door hissed.

In stepped a pair of Stormtroopers. They glanced about, their weapons in hand. One of them shook his head and headed for the workstation. His fingers tapped over the keys and the screen booted back up.

"So, was the alert worth it?"

"For the love of…" The Trooper at the station turned towards his compatriot as Ezra's search appeared on the screen. "Would you give it a rest, we were told to monitor this area, that means when a station powers up without someone actively working at it we have to come and check it out."

Ezra closed his eyes. He focused back on The Force, and envisioned the workstation in his mind's eye. His hand twisted and the controls responded. The screen blipped as it appeared back at the standard login. His eyes opened and the two troopers huffed at each other.

"You love the regs so much, maybe you should marry them." The trooper at the station got close, their helmets almost smacked.

"Listen here rookie. You want to make it here on Mandalore, you'd do best to learn those regs. Because trust me, there's very few in The Empire less forgiving than Viceroy Saxon." He turned back and looked at the station screen. "Great, there must be another bug in the system again. You'll report it Engineering right when we get back."

"Karabast, why do I-" The Trooper jabbed his finger into the chestplate of the other.

"One more word and I'll tell The Viceroy myself about your little bits of insubordination." The two Stormtroopers turned and left the room. Ezra carefully released his pent up breath, but still didn't move. Not but two seconds later the door hissed a third time. Ezra watched as the white and black armoured Captain Hark entered the room.

His helmet swivelled around the room, but he didn't leave. Ezra shifted back, his dark hair melded with the darkness of the vent. He felt more than saw as Captain Hark's head turned and glanced up at the vent. After a few more moments The Mandalorian turned and left the room. Ezra looked down at the floor, then did his best to turn around, it would be safer to use the vents.


Outside Dormitory 5, Imperial Academy

Sabine stared at the empty hallways, well except droids. Finally she caught sight of the blue haired boy. He yelped as one of the droids rolling through collided with him. Sabine raised an eye, what did Bridger do to that droid. She shook her head as he got closer.

"Good, you're finally here. We're going to the training room." He looked at her, then at the dorm and back to the hallway.

"Isn't curfew soon?"

"Since when have you cared about the shabla curfew?" Sabine walked by him, straight for the training wing. She glanced back at him. "You coming or what?"


Combat Room Alpha-1, Imperial Academy

Sabine installed a spike in the cameras as she stood at the door with Ezra, she didn't want any of this getting back to Saxon.

The pair entered the room and Sabine walked towards the centre ring. Ezra followed, and right as his foot crossed the line Sabine spun. Her fingers wrapped around his uniform and pulled him fully in. She planted her other hand onto his stomach and threw him over her shoulder.

A loud blast of air echoed from Ezra's lips as he hit the ground on his back. He coughed and tried to get up. But Sabine fell on him. Her next two strikes hit home on his ribs. Her third landed across his face. At that point Ezra managed to get his arms up. Which must have been what she wanted.

Sabine hit his ribs, and caught the arm that went to block. She pulled the binders out from her belt and locked them around Ezra's wrist. His blue eyes went wide as Sabine locked the binders around his other wrist. She wrenched his arms over his head. Manda, when had he gotten that much taller than her? Sabine shook that thought off and fast.

"Jetii," she hissed in his face. He stopped dead, and his eyes met hers. His jaw dropped open and his entire body relaxed beneath her. He was at her mercy and knew it. Sabine narrowed her focus on his features. "Why are you here?"

"I'm assuming honesty is the best option?" Ezra's cheekiness made Sabine's blood boil. She pulled her blaster from her belt and jabbed it into his side. Ezra groaned. "Point taken. I'm here for you."

"What?" Sabine's eyes went wide as she stared at him, there wasn't a twitch, no shift in his features. Everything she could see told her he spoke the truth. That couldn't be right though, why would a Jedi come here for her?

"Your project has drawn a lot of attention." Sabine rolled off of him and lowered into a standard fighting stance. Ezra groaned and stood, his blue eyes watched her. She twisted and threw a kick to his side. He blocked and side stepped her. Her quick punches caught his stomach unguarded.

"Jehaatir!" Sabine jumped into the air and brought her fist down against Ezra's face. He crumpled under the blow and Sabine went with him from the lack of resistance. As she hit the ground Sabine felt Ezra shift. He rolled on top of her. His legs on either side of her and his hands kept hers pinned.

"No. Not a lie. You have no idea what you've built Sabine. That weapon is dangerous. The Rebels, The Empire, even Mandalorians. That weapon can and will destroy all of them." Sabine tried to buck him off. Then her gaze narrowed and she brought her legs up and encircled his head. "Ah!"

She tugged downwards and shifted their weight. Ezra hit the deck and she was on top of him now. Sabine hit twice, two scores to his face. Ezra growled and caught one of her arms again. She reared back to hit him again and his free hand came up into her jaw.

Pain blasted across Sabine's face. She refocused on him, but Ezra's head had already closed the distance. Another pain followed the smack as their foreheads collided. Sabine hissed as she fell backwards. She shook her head and rolled to her feet. She came up at the same time Ezra did.

"That weapon will destroy Mandalore's enemies, what does it matter who wields it. Mandalore serves The Empire." It sounded hollow, but it was all she had. Sabine had to believe that even if she finished The Duchess, The Empire would have no reason to use it against her people, because they were loyal. Ezra had his arms up in some kind of approximation of a defensive stance.

"You don't believe that. Just like you don't believe The Empire wants what's best for Mandalore." Sabine wouldn't accept that. The Empire would reward her loyalty. They had to. She moved forward and threw a few strikes. Ezra evaded them. He seemed to float over the floor. Sabine feinted a hit and twisted. Her kick was low and swept Ezra's legs from underneath him. She fell on him and hit whatever part of him she could.

"Ni Kelir draar duumir te Empire at ganar kot jaon Manda'yaim!" Sabine got at least four good hits to him ever through the water that filled her eyes. Then her fist stopped. She blinked some of the tears away and saw Ezra. His hand was wrapped around her fist. He already had a few red and purple marks on his face.

"Gar ganar dinuir te Empire ibac kot, bal gar kar'taylir bic." He spoke Mando'a… Sabine stared at him. The words bounced around her skull. The part that bothered her the most though, she couldn't find fault in his words. Ezra was right, it was the same thought she'd had when he suggested up-armouring the walkers. The Duchess wouldn't just destroy her armour, it could destroy any Mandalorian armour. If The Empire decided to use it The Duchess would destroy any Mandalorian, whether they resisted or not.


A/N:

Well Sabine now sees the writing on the wall, what will she do with that info? So I know that my stories always fade in and out. I'm hoping to get more into writing as the fall and winter set in and I'm less inclined to be out and about.

That said the biggest change has come to this story. It has now been commissioned, and I have an outline planned for at least 9 chapters and an Epilogue! Hopefully by the time this is posted I'll already have gotten a decent headstart on the next chapter. I've decided to do a bit more flip flopping when it comes to my writing so I'm working on multiple stories during the same writing sessions. With any luck that will also help me to improve the rate at which I get chapters of everything out.

Thank you to everyone who had stayed with me for this long ride. I'll be engaging a bit with the recent reviews below, but first take a look at some of the translations for the Mando'a in the chapter if you feel so inclined!

Mando'a Translations

Jetii = Jedi

Jehaatir = Lie

"Ni Kelir draar duumir te Empire at ganar kot jaon Manda'yaim!" = "I will never allow The Empire to have strength over Mandalore."

"Gar ganar dinuir te Empire ibac kot, bal gar kar'taylir bic." = "You have given The Empire that strength, and you know it."

Big shout out to Anonymous Noob the 2nd for requesting this story! I'll see you with the next one!

-Six Out!