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Decision
Damian pressed the faceplate of Sabine's Mandalorian vambrace into its place and secured it, then tossed it into the air before catching it again. After she'd taken time to think, she'd come back to train and Kanan had given her the Darksaber to train with while he used his lightsaber. However, she'd still been struggling with her demons and hadn't been focused. Toward the end, she fell and her vambrace landed on the blade, being ruined. Kanan had used the sparring match to force Sabine into admitting how she felt, and what was bothering her. She hadn't thought she was worthy of leading her people because after she'd joined the empire to help Mandalore, they'd used the weapons she built in order to enslave them. Then, when she left the Empire and spoke out against them, her family had sided with the Empire over her. As such, she had said there was no way any of them would follow her. Ezra had almost immediately promised to follow her anywhere. Then, all of the others, including Rau, promised the same, and Kanan pointed out that her new family would always side with her, no matter what. Then, they'd decided she was trained enough and began to head for Sabine's home planet, Krownest, to try and recruit her clan. Damian had gotten the Vambraces' schematics from Rau, and had had some of his smuggler contacts acquire beskar plating for them, and was just finishing repairing her damaged one, having already swapped the other one's plating.
"Finished," Damian said, holding the vambrace out.
"How did you find beskar plating for these again?" Sabine asked, slipping it on.
"My smuggler contacts," Damian said. "I kept the contacts and payed them in advance for anything I'd need, whether it's info or parts for projects or the ships. Some of my contacts happen to be extremely good at odd jobs."
"Well, that explains how you always seemed to be able to find random parts to repair the Ghost after a shootout," Sabine said.
"Yup," Damian nodded. "How close are we?"
"Very," Sabine said, just as the Phantom Two dropped out of hyperspace, the planet before them, growing closer quickly. She sighed heavily. "Welcome home."
"You really think it's going to be that bad?" Ezra asked.
"I haven't been back to Krownest since before my time at the Imperial Academy, Ezra," Sabine said. "I didn't exactly leave on good terms."
"Well, maybe things have changed," Ezra said. "They might be happy to see you."
"Hah, you don't know my family," Sabine said.
"I do," Rau said. "Your mother is the leader of Clan Wren, Sabine. She may be with the Empire now, but I believe her true Loyalty lies...with Mandalore."
"Even if that were true, she thinks I'm a traitor," Sabine said.
"Then we'll prove she's wrong," Ezra said confidently.
"If you can convince your mother to join us, all of Mandalore might follow you and the Darksaber," Rau said.
Sabine reached her left hand over to rest on the saber hanging from the right side of her waist. "Ah, I should let them know we're coming so they don't shoot us down."
Ezra laughed. "That's funny, I...Wait, you're not kidding, are you?"
"Everybody strap in," Damian said. "This ride's could get a bit rough."
Sabine spoke into the transmitter in her native language for a moment, announcing her approach, who she was, and requesting permission to land. The response sounded polite, especially considering it was essentially telling them they were about to die, and was followed by their comms being jammed.
"What happened?" Ezra asked.
"They're jamming us," Sabine said.
"And they're about to shoot at us too," Damian said.
Chopper instantly began to beep at them, banging a manipulator on the hull of the ship.
"Incoming," Kanan said. "Looks like your family just sent out the welcoming committee."
"Brace for a Mandalorian greeting," Damian said.
Suddenly, four Mandalorians flew out of the clouds, firing a rocket each.
"Rockets!" Ezra warned. "Rockets!"
"I see them!" Sabine said, just as Damian extended his arm, then closed his fist, the rockets all streaking inward and exploding against each other. "Nice!" Sabine said.
Then, the Mandalorians began to shoot at them as they passed, the deflector shields protecting them for a moment.
"Didn't you tell them who you were?" Ezra asked.
"That's probably why they're shooting at us," Sabine said.
Just then, they all looked up as they heard someone land on top of the ship before an explosion sounded and the ship lurched then began to fall.
"We've lost the main thruster!" Sabine said. "Brace for impact!"
A few moments later, they tore through a few dozen trees before slamming into the ground and plowing to a stop. Damian sighed, unstrapping himself.
"That wasn't so bad," Damian said.
"Better than the first time we landed on Felucia," Ahsoka agreed.
"What happened then?" Ezra asked.
"Out of the three of us, no one woke up from the crash for two hours," Damian said as they all walked outside.
"Recruiting the Wrens will be more difficult than I thought," Rau said.
"You weren't easy to recruit either," Kanan said. "So we switch to Plan B. You better stay out of sight. I have a feeling we're gonna need you later."
Rau nodded, closing the door to the shuttle, and they all turned away from the shuttle in time for five Mandalorians to fly over the trees and land in a semicircle in front of them.
"Now remember, I could be related to these guys," Sabine said.
"Don't worry, I'll play nice," Ezra said.
The Mandalorians aimed at them, and Ezra reached for his lightsabers, only for Damian to catch his arm.
"You draw, they attack," Damian said. "Wait. Sabine, you do the talking."
"Sabine?" one in pure white Imperial Mandalorian armor with gold highlights, as opposed to the other four's silver and gold, asked, then pulled his helmet off as he walked forward.
"Tristan," Sabine said, pulling off her own helmet and walking forward to meet him.
"You changed your hair again," Tristan said.
"You know me," Sabine said, running a hand through it.
"Do I?" Tristan asked, glaring at the four Jedi behind Sabine. "Who are the Jedi? Or are you going to try and tell me those aren't lightsabers they're all carrying?"
"No, they are," Sabine said. "They're my friends. I'll explain everything. I promise."
"I'll take you to the stronghold," Tristan said. "But I can't vouch for how you'll be treated."
He turned and walked away, Sabine glancing back at them all before following, the others falling in line. The other Mandalorians formed a box around them, keeping their blasters ready, and Damian keeping a hand near his own blaster and lightsaber. The walk was uncomfortably quiet, except for Sabine asking Tristan how he can stand to wear Imperial Armor. Finally, they found the stronghold. Damian stared at it longingly. It wasn't a base. It was a home. A beautiful, massive, borderline mansion home. A window spanning two floors making up the entire wall facing the lake the house was built beside, with that section of the house raised slightly so that it extended out over the water, then the rest of the building branched off of the sides of the back of the house with a slightly smaller second story on top of it. It was beautiful, and it made Damian miss their homes on Alderaan and Naboo. Ahsoka slipped her hand into his, smiling.
"We'll go back," Ahsoka said. "As soon as the war's over."
Damian smiled and nodded, squeezing her hand lightly. As they reached the stairs leading up toward the door, one of the numerous guards outside held up their hand, stopping them. A moment later, the door opened and a woman walked out wearing armor that was mostly gold with an intricate design over it and silver as a backdrop. She had a fitting resemblance to Sabine, but with brown hair in a loose bun. As she stopped at the top of the steps, she glared down her nose at Sabine.
"So, it's true, then," the woman said.
"Mother-"
"Put her in a cell, she'll be held for trial!" Sabine's mother snapped.
"Mother!" Sabine said, shoving a guard aside before raising the Darksaber, extending its blade. "We need to talk."
"The Darksaber," her mother breathed, staring at it.
Sabine sighed, retracting the blade and lowering her arm, then cleared her throat and turned to the others. "Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridge, Damian Shan, Ahsoka Tano, this is my mother, the Countess, Ursa Wren."
"Hi," Ezra said, stepping forward, only to stop and raise his hands as every Mandalorian in the area besides Sabine and Ursa aimed at him. "Whoa! Hey! No no! Just saying hello." He stepped back beside the others.
"What did you expect would happen here, Sabine?" Ursa asked. "That you'd be welcomed with open arms? You're wanted by the Empire."
"I know," Sabine said. "But I'm part of the Rebellion now," Sabine said. "Please hear what I have to say."
"I will tolerate the Jedi presence in our ancestral home," Ursa said. "If they surrender their weapons."
She turned and walked inside and Sabine walked back to Damian and the others, shoving one of the guards who was holding his hand out for their weapons aside.
"Well, that went better than I expected," Sabine said.
"That was better?" Ezra asked. "I hope you're not really expecting us to hand over our lightsabers, are you?"
"Do it, Ezra," Damian said, grimacing widely as he removed his belt and thigh holster, which held his lightsaber and blaster, as well as the rifle pieces, then again as he pulled off Satele Shan's lightsaber. "Please be careful with these." He held them out to a Mandalorian. "They're family heirlooms."
"We need to do whatever it takes to make this work," Kanan said.
"They'll be safe, Ezra," Sabine promised.
"Alright," Ezra said.
He, Kanan, and Ahsoka all handed their lightsabers over as well and they were all led inside.
Damian sighed as the Mandalorians in the room levelled their guns at them. It hadn't taken them long to go back on their word. Ursa had gone to talk to Sabine, then had come back without her. Ezra had called Ursa out for not being a true Mandalorian since she sided with the Empire, and told her that Sabine had fought Gar Saxon. The moment he did, Ursa had said that what she had to do was unfortunate, and the Mandalorians had grabbed their blasters.
"So let me guess," Damian said. "You've already called Gar Saxon."
"That's right," Ursa said. "He should be here momentarily."
"Plan three?" Ahsoka asked.
"Mmm," Damian hummed thoughtfully. "I'm thinking it's going to be a seven."
"Really?" Ahsoka asked, smirking. "Alright. I can work with a seven."
"It doesn't matter what plans you make," Ursa said. "You're not getting away."
"Mother!" Sabine shouted, running over to them. "You can't do this!"
"Yes she can," Saxon said, walking into the room and smirking wickedly. "Because she is loyal. Just not to you."
"Saxon," Damian said. "Glad to see you replaced those traitors I killed last time. I'll enjoy doing the same to these ones."
"Ah, but it would seem that you are currently defenseless," Saxon said, turning to Ursa's throne. "I believe you have something else for me."
Saxon nodded and tossed him the Darksaber.
"No!" Sabine shouted, moving to take it from him, only for Tristan to catch her.
"I've upheld my end of the bargain, Saxon," Ursa said. "You have the Darksaber. Take the Jedi and let my daughter go."
"Your mother betrayed everything you believe in to save you," Saxon said. "It's admirable. Except she consorted with known traitors to do it!"
"What are you talking about?" Ursa asked.
"Oh, this is the part where he stabs you in the back," Damian said. "Shame you took our lightsabers and we're now helpless to defend you."
Saxon smirked. "Quite. Countess, you are harboring Rebels here. Clan Wren is clearly a threat to the Empire, and must be made an example of."
The four troops with him raised their blasters, and the Clan Wren Mandalorians in the room turned to them instantly, raising their own. Ursa stood, glaring at him, only for Tristan to step forward.
"Governor, wait," Tristan said. "It doesn't have to be this way. We're all Mandalorians!"
"I've been fair to you Tristan, and you've served me well," Saxon said. "I'll give you a choice. Stand with me, or die with your family."
After a moment, Tristan turned, drawing a blaster and aiming it at Sabine. "I choose family." He turned, aiming at Saxon.
"Then Clan Wren ends here," Saxon said, extending the blade of the Darksaber.
Before he could kill anyone, Rau smashed through the window, hurling Damian's belt and Satele Shan's lightsaber holder, complete with all of his weapons, to him at the same time as tossing all the other lightsabers into the air, the other three using the Force to retrieve theirs.
Damian smiled, pulling his gear back on in the same amount of time it took everyone to realize what was happening, then drew Satele's lightsaber, passing Sabine half of it and drawing his blaster, holding it in his left hand with the other half of Satele's lightsaber in his right hand.
"Took you long enough!" Kanan said as the shootout began.
"I've been busy!" Rau said.
"Ah, Plan seven," Damian smiled, reflecting two bolts back into two of Saxon's troops necks between their helmets and chest plates. "Works every time."
"This is Plan seven?" Ursa asked. "You knew Rau would bring you your weapons?"
"Of course," Damian smirked. "I warned him on the way that he'd probably need to get our gear back for us while we stalled you. Didn't realize it'd be for Saxon, though."
Just then, Saxon leapt at Ursa, only for Sabine to step into his path with the lightsaber Damian had given her, allowing her to block it. As she began to fight him, Damian looked around, picking out the last three Imperial Mandalorians and swiping a hand downward, sending all three crashing to the ground around the room where they were instantly finished off. Then, everyone turned to watch the duel. However, just as they did, Saxon crashed into her, using his jetpack to fly out the window, then slammed her into the ground before flipping to his feet. Everyone ran to the window, besides Damian, who retrieved one of the Imperial Mandalorians' jetpacks first. As he arrived, Ursa was stopping Ezra from trying to help Sabine.
"By Mandalorian customs and law, no one may interfere!" Ursa said.
"Are Mandalorian customs more important than your daughter?" Kanan asked.
"It's fine," Damian said. "She's not losing this fight. It's for her family. Both of them."
Just then, Saxon began to fly around, firing at her with one of his blasters, only for Sabine to use an energy shield in her left vambrace to block anything aimed for her head as she ran to a rock. Then, she jumped, her right spewing flames on him for a moment. Saxon shouted in surprise and pain as Sabine ran under him. Then, before he could find her, she fired a dart into his jetpack which let out an electrical pulse, shorting it out and sending him crashing down on the ice.
"I'm impressed," Saxon said. "You have some skill. But not enough to save you!" He extended the Darksaber again and Sabine reextended her lightsaber's blade as well.
"That's funny," Sabine said. "I was about to say the same thing to you!"
They both charged, clashing again and again, the ice below them cracking more and more with each strike. Finally, Sabine spun inside of a strike and slashed upward, managing to slice a shallow wound into his arm. He shouted in pain, staggering away and holding his arm as Sabine caught the Darksaber, which he'd released and sent spinning into the air, then extended the blade, holding both sabers in reverse grip and holding them to his throat.
"Yield!" Sabine ordered.
"I'll never yield to you, girl!" Saxon said. "You'll have to kill me!"
Ezra and Kanan glanced at each other before Sabine retracted her blades.
"That might be the Mandalorian way, but it's not my way," Sabine said. "Not anymore."
She nodded to Tristan, who returned the nod and walked forward as Sabine turned to walk to Ezra and the others. However, As she did, Saxon spun, drawing a blaster, only for Ursa to blast him before he could shoot Sabine in the back. Sabine looked back at Saxon in surprise as he collapsed, then to Ursa, seeing her lowering her blaster, glaring at Saxon.
"Mother," Sabine smiled, as Ursa walked over to her.
"No one threatens our family," Ursa smiled, setting a hand on Sabine's shoulder.
"Gar Saxon was guilty of treason against the throne, collaboration with our enemy, and the execution of my fellow protectors," Rau said, walking over to them. "But when the rest of Mandalore finds out about his death, there will be chaos."
"Perhaps Mandalore needs chaos if it's to become strong once again," Ursa said, then turned to Sabine. "So that we may find a leader worthy of our people."
Sabine smiled and they all walked back over, Sabine handing Damian back his lightsaber, which he reconnected with its other half and put away. A couple minutes later, Chopper arrived.
"Sure, now you show up," Ezra smirked. "Now that all the fighting's done."
Chopper began to defend himself as Damian chuckled.
"The Empire will come for you once they find out what's happened here," Kanan said. "The Rebellion can help.
"The same Rebellion that sent you for my help?" Ursa asked. "No. Mandalore must rise by itself. We protect our own."
"So do we," Kanan said. "Sabine."
"She's right," Sabine said.
"Wait," Ezra said, eyes widening and filling with hurt and fear. "You're not...coming with us?"
"I'm done running away," Sabine said. "My father's on Mandalore. We'll find a way to get him back. And then...And then maybe we can join the fight against the Empire. But...right now...I can do more good here."
"I am so-" Kanan began.
"Do not say you're proud of me," Sabine interrupted.
Kanan chuckled. "Me? Never."
Sabine's eyes softened and she stepped forward, hugging him tightly.
"But I am going to miss you," Kanan said.
"We all will," Ezra said as she pulled back and turned to him. "If you need anything, all you have to do is call. I'll always-"
"Be here for me," Sabine finished. "I know." She stepped forward, hugging him as well, and he hugged her back. After a moment, she pulled back, giving him a quick kiss before stepping back. "Thank you. All of you. For everything."
"You're welcome," Damian said. "We'll see you soon, Sabine."
Sabine hesitated before nodding, smiling.
Then, everyone who was leaving got onto the Phantom Two and Damian took off, flying away.
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