Chapter 21

Ezra was walking to the hangars and saw his ship was already prepped for launch. He saw the R2 astromech, R2-T6, aka Trix, on the boarding ramp, awaiting Ezra's arrival. There were rebel ground crews nearby as well, making sure the fuel lines are full and all systems are green. Hera had just given him a mission to meet up with a Rebel sympathizer in deep space. Considering the planetary security around most well known planets is very high, everybody agreed the meeting should happen in space. Sabine really wanted to go, but Hera ordered her to stay back. She's been moving around too much already and needed rest. Reluctantly, she complied after Ezra promised he would be back within the rotation.

"Ezra," a familiar voice said behind him and he turned around.

"Sabine? You're supposed to be resting!"

"I know, I know. I just... wanted to see you off," she said, smiling softly.

Ezra smiled and walked up to his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped hers around his neck, having to lift her heels off the ground a bit. She buried her face on his shoulder, not wanting to let him go. Ezra could sense something was troubling Sabine.

"What's on your mind?" he asked.

Sabine hugged him tighter, "I just have a bad feeling about this. Like I'm never going to see you again."

"Sabine," Ezra began, "It's only a rendezvous. Nothing is going to happen."

He pulled away from the hug to look Sabine in the eyes, but she kept her eyes at his chest. Ezra placed two fingers under her chin and turned her head up to face him.

"I'll be just fine. Nothing to worry about, I promise."

Sabine carrassed his scarred cheek, then ran her thumb over the newer scar from that assassin he encountered on Krownest.

"I suppose I'm just growing paranoid," Sabine said with a small laugh, which Ezra joined in on.

"Besides, I'll have my squad with me," Ezra reassured.

"You'll have half of your squad," Sabine remarked with a grin. "I'm stuck with Jill and Jax while you have to deal with Max, Coren, and Keith."

"I guess now there's six of us then."

"Oh I'm not part of your squad?" Sabine asked, giving Ezra a sad, pouty face.

"I... I never meant that..." Ezra stammered.

"I'm just kidding, love," Sabine said as she gave him a kiss. "Now, you should get going. Not polite to keep Mandalorians waiting."

Ezra grinned, "I think I can handle myself. See you soon."

He turned around and ran to the boarding ramp of the Starbird, where his away team was waiting. Jill and Jax were there just to see them off as well and after everybody boarded the Kom'rk fighter, the two Mandalorians walked over to Sabine and watched the Starbird fly off to space.

"I'm sure he'll be alright. He's got Coren, Max, and Keith with him," Jill said, placing a comforting hand on Sabine's shoulder.

"I know. It's just... a bad feeling," Sabine replied, not taking her eyes off the Starbird's engines until they finally disappeared from view.

*20 minutes later*

"Coren, where's Commander Bridger?" Max asked as she entered the cockpit.

"I thought he was with you," he replied.

"Really? I thought he was right here," Max said, then looked to Keith. "Do you know?"

"Actually I don't. Have you checked his quarters?"

"He's not in there either, I've checked," Max said, placing a hand to her chin.

"Trix, he's still here, right?" Coren asked the still silver R2 unit.

"Of course!" the droid replied in binary. "He checked in with me right after we entered hyperspace."

"I'll go look in the medical bay. It's the only place I haven't checked yet," Max said as she ran out of the cockpit, but ran into Ezra as she did.

"Woah, what's the rush?" he asked. He was wearing his orange mandalorian armor, his helmet in his hands.

"Commander!" Max exclaimed and immediately, the entire room snapped to attention. "I was just going to look for you, sir."

"At ease, please," he said and everybody relaxed.

"Where were you, sir?" Coren asked.

"I was in the armor locker, getting my armor on. Is... something wrong?"

"No sir. Just couldn't find you anywhere," Max said, sitting in a chair.

"I'm sorry about that. I guess I should have told you guys where I was," Ezra said sheepishly.

"Well we're about 40 minutes from our rendezvous point. We should get whatever rest we can get while we can," Coren said.

"Good idea. Trix, wake us when we arrive will you?" Ezra said to the droid, who beeped in reply.

Ezra walked into his quarters while the rest of his team went to the common room, or at least whatever counts as a common room in a Kom'rk fighter, and crashed on the padded seats in there. They would have gone into the guest rooms, but they wanted to be able to reach the cockpit at a moments notice.

Ezra sat on the floor, cross legged, and began to meditate. To him it felt like sleeping considering he was totally relaxed and time seemed to fly past. In many ways, meditation had similar effects to sleeping, only there's almost no drowsy effects afterwards... almost.

He focused on the Force, letting all his emotions flow through it. Peace and calm washed over Ezra as he was lost in the Force... but that peace was shattered as a booming voice killed his concentration.

"REVIVE ME!"

Ezra's eyes shot open and he banged his head on something... no, banged his head on someone. He shook his head, simultaneously rubbing it with his hand and looked up to see Max standing over him, also rubbing her head.

"Max?" Ezra said.

"Ow... Sorry Commander, I was just about to wake you. We're coming up at the rendezvous," she replied.

"Thanks... and I'm sorry for hitting you," Ezra apologized.

"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine. I've had much worse injuries than a bumped head," she joked.

"What do you need?" Ezra asked as he stood up.

"I'm sorry, you must not have heard me after we bumped heads," Max said. "We're coming up on the rendezvous."

"Already? Okay then, thanks for letting me know. Is everybody else ready?" Ezra asked as he led Max out of his (Ezra's) quarters towards the cockpit.

"Yes sir. T6 tried to signal you, but you wouldn't respond so I came in to get you. Didn't even touch you and you just shot up... Speaking of which, what happened?"

"Nothing important. Something just startled me, is all," Ezra said as they entered the cockpit.

Max had a worried look on her face, but didn't want to push the topic. "Alright."

Ezra sat in the pilot's seat and brought the ship out of hyperspace as soon as the nav computer began beeping. Sure enough there was a ship waiting for them and they received a transmission.

"Unidentified ship, my hyperdrive malfunctioned and my long range comms are offline. Can you give me a hand?" a voice said through the comms.

"I've heard rumors of a ship stranded out here so I decided to see for myself. I guess the rumors were true," Ezra said, staying in character.

"I guess my small beacon found somebody. There's a docking port on my port side."

"I see it. Docking in 10..." Ezra said as he began counting down from 10. He practiced docking so many times he can get it right within 10 seconds after lining up the docking ports.

After the docking ports were locked together and pressurized, Ezra boarded the 'stranded' vessel with his droid. The final airlock doors opened and they found themselves face to face with a Mon Calamari captain.

"Greetings friends. My name is Drekkar. Welcome aboard the Star Eel." The rebel sympathizer said, holding out his hand.

"Bridger. Ezra Bridger," Ezra said as he shook Drekkar's hand. "And this is my crew," he added as his squad walked in.

"Mandalorians?" Drekkar asked, surprised.

"We're going to help you fix your hyperdrive," Ezra said.

"Perfect! It's right over here," Drekkar said as he led Ezra and his team to the hyperdrive, which Max began 'working' on.

"Can you tell me what's wrong with the hyperdrive?" she asked, knowing all the code phrases very well.

"Of course," Drekkar said as he knelt next to Max. "It overheated and I found one of the cooling valves that was shattered, and a plasma conduit was dead. I had to direct all power from the hyperdrive to prevent it from overloading and going critical."

He pointed to a monitor on the panel and dropped something into Max's hand.

"You have spares don't you?" she asked then.

"Well, yes. But I'm not an engineer. I can't fix things very well," he said, and Ezra could sense some truth behind that.

Max smiled, "I'm only a medic, but you know Mandalorians specialize in everything from making explosives and fixing ships. In fact, my father helps design ships, which explains... well, it explains a lot really."

Minutes later, Max finished 'repairing' the hyperdrive and stood up. "Alright, that should fix it. Pleasure to meet you, Drekkar."

"The pleasure was all mine. Thank you so much for your help," he said.

Ezra and his team boarded the Starbird and detached from the Mon Calamari vessel, which jumped to hyperspace just moments afterwards.

"Alright team. Let's head ho-"

"Boss?" Coren began. "Boss, are you alright?"

"Something's... calling me..." he said as he closed his eyes to focus.

Max gave Coren a worried look and they both nodded, "Ezra, don't listen to it."

"I know, I know... but whatever it is... it's close..."

Ezra began unconsciously setting a course to wherever the voice was coming from and before anybody could stop him, the Starbird was in hyperspace.

*2 hours later*

Ezra walked around the inside of the cave after setting the Starbird. He had to investigate what was causing all the strange events. Right after they left hyperspace, his entire crew passed out and wouldn't wake up. Whatever it was, it was powerful.

After a while of walking around, Ezra noticed a stone shelf with some sort of mask. He walked up to it and picked it up.

"What is a creepy mask doing in a creepy place like this?" he asked aloud.

Despite his instincts screaming at him to put it down, Ezra turned it around, inspecting it when it just flew up to his face. He was pushed back a couple feet in surprise, but soon noticed a change in his abilities. He jumped higher, ran faster, overall his Force abilities were amplified, perhaps stronger than Vader himself.

"Woah... this feels... great!" he said, excited. But that excitement instantly turned to fear when he couldn't take it off, and a deep, familiar voice exploded in his head.

"AT LAST I AM FREE!"

Ezra passed out from the splitting pain in his head, the last thing he hears is evil laughter.

...

Sabine was just relaxing and watching a movie on the holonet when she picked up a transmission from the Starbird.

"Sabine!"

"Max? What's wrong? Where are you guys?" Sabine asked, instantly worried.

"It's... It's Ezra! Something's happened to him and he's wearing some creepy mask. He's already wounded Coren, but thankfully he didn't kill him and..."

"WHAT?" Sabine exclaimed.

"He's not himself. We told him not to but he insisted on investigating something!" Max said. "You need to get here and fast. I'm transmitting coordinates."

"Where are you right now?"

Max hesitated, "We... we're in orbit of a planet... We left Ezra on the surface."

"You did WHAT?"

"Whatever has control of Ezra would have killed us if we hadn't left..." Max explained.

Sabine took a deep breath and calmly asked, "What's Coren's condition?"

"He's awake, just a cut on his arm but nothing too serious."

"I'm on my way. Don't go anywhere..." Sabine bit her lip. "See you soon."

...

An hour later, Sabine arrived in orbit of a dark, creepy looking world and found the Starbird exactly where Max said it was. She docked with the Kom'rk ship and walked right up to Max.

"You said he's still down there, right?" she asked, frantically.

"Y-Yes, but..."

"I'm going down there. I need to talk to him," Sabine said, but Max grabbed her arm.

"Sabine don't. He could kill you."

Sabine glared at Max, "My husband is still down there and I'm going to get him even if it costs me my life."

"Then I'm going with you," Max said.

"No. Take the ship I used to get here and report back to base. That's an order."

Max tried to argue, but she wasn't getting anywhere with Sabine so eventually she and the rest of her squad left. Sabine piloted the Starbird back down to the surface and began looking for Ezra... and it didn't take very long.

"EZRA!" she called out once she saw him.

"Ahh, the Mandalorian arrives at last." Ezra said, but it wasn't his voice.

It reminded Sabine of that time on Dathomir when the Nightsisters possessed her and Kanan and it sent chills down her spine.

"Ezra, we have to leave," Sabine said.

"Ezra Bridger is no more. Nihilus has returned!" Ezra, now possesed, announces.

"No!" Sabine yells, tears forming in her eyes.

"I haven't killed in millenia, and I sense two forms but see one." Nihilus growls. "Ah, so you are pregnant. How exciting! Too bad you're going to die!"

Nihilus ignites Ezra's lightsaber and lunges at Sabine, but she had the darksaber with her and she was able to deflect the blow, but barely. The fight continued for 2 minutes until Nihilus began to choke Sabine, lifting her off the ground with the Force.

"E-Ezra..." Sabine choked, "Please..."

"I told you, Ezra is gone!"

"No!"

"After I kill you, and your... daughter, I will begin my conquest. I WILL DESTROY ALL THE JEDI, SITH, AND ANYONE WHO USES THE FORCE! IT WILL ALL DIE!"

"Ezra..." Sabine choked out, her voice fading, "I'm... sorry..."

She reignited her darksaber and threw it with whatever strength she had left and Nihilus tried to dodge it, but there was conflict within him and the Blade cut the mask, somehow leaving Ezra's face unscratched. That was enough for Nihilus to drop Sabine, who was barely conscious at this point. Ezra managed to regain control for the moment and ripped the mask off his face and threw it to the ground.

"NO! I HAD YOU!"

"You never had me..." a breathless Ezra said, "You... tried to kill my wife, daughter, and friends... But now you will never hurt anybody again!"

"YOU CAN'T BEAT ME!"

"You're just a stupid mask," Ezra said as he crushed the mask with the heel of his boots, sending a shockwave and a horrific scream from the shattered remains of the mask.

Ezra scrambled over to Sabine and checked her vitals, "Sabine? No no no, Sabine don't do this!"

Suddenly, Sabine gasped for air, then began coughing. "E-Ezra? Is that you?" She asked, her voice quiet.

"Yes, Sabine. It's me, hang in there," Ezra said as he held his wife. "I'm so sorry, Sabine. I never should have come here. All it did was harm you and everyone else."

He began crying on Sabine's shoulder, but she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, "I'm just happy you're back. Can we get out of here now though? I really hate this place."

Ezra laughed, "I'm not arguing with you this time."

Ezra helped Sabine get back to the Starbird and they took off.

"Ezra... how's Mira?" Sabine asked, her voice still weak.

"Her Force signature is still very strong. She's fine, Bine," Ezra said.

Sabine smiled, "Thank goodness."

"Get some rest. I'll handle everything from here," Ezra said, but his droid, who was powered down the entire time this all happened, rolled into the room.

"I can get us back to Yavin if you need to rest, master," Trix said, of course speaking binary.

"You don't have to call me 'master', Trix. And thank you," Ezra said as the droid made his way to the cockpit.

Sabine wrapped her arms around Ezra, pulling him in for a kiss, "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum."

"Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, Sabine. I swear I won't hurt you again," Ezra said.

Sabine curled up on his chest and they both soon fell asleep.

...

"Hera, has Dawn had any food lately?" Kanan asked as he carried a crying Dawn.

"Not since lunch," Hera replied.

"Her bottle's in the fridge, right?"

"It should be in there, love," Hera replied.

Kanan used the Force to open the fridge door and pulled the baby bottle into his hand and began feeding Dawn, who instantly grew quiet when she saw the bottle, eagerly reaching for it.

"Patience my young padawan," Kanan teased as Hera stood in the doorway, smiling. She never knew how good a father Kanan could be.

She then thought of how good of parents Ezra and Sabine could be, and she thought back to a time when Ezra and Sabine were taking care of the younglings they rescued from the Inquisitors just a few years ago. They did a pretty good job and even acted like a married couple, with their arguing and constantly taking turns taking care of the younglings until they returned them to their parents.

...

Ezra pulled back on the throttle and the ship came out of lightspeed in front of Yavin. When they landed, Max, Coren, and Keith were waiting for them.

"Ezra," Max called out. "You are Ezra again... right?"

Sabine stepped up next to him, "Yes, he is Ezra again. We destroyed the mask so whoever was controlling Ezra is never going to hurt anybody again."

"I'm very sorry about everything. I understand if you hate me now, I guess that's what happens when Mandos work with Jedi," Ezra said, sincerely.

"Nonsense, we knew that really wasn't you when you attacked us. Let's get you two some food, our treat," Coren said.

"No... if anything I'm paying. It's the least I could do anyway," Ezra said. He noticed Coren's arm, "How's the arm?"

"I've had worse. Not the first time I've dealt with lightsaber wielders believe it or not," he replied with a grin.

"Come on guys, let's go," Max said as she dragged both Coren and Keith to the mess hall and Sabine dragged Ezra.

Sabine and Ezra were laughing the whole way there, their terrifying ordeal completely forgotten as they made their way to get something to eat. However, the hardship is nowhere near finished; Somewhere in the galaxy, an unimaginable evil is about to unfold. An evil so sinister, it will change the lives of billions upon billions of people all throughout the galaxy.

Quick Author's Note to ODST Ezra B and the rest of my followers: The update notification you saw for Injured was a mishap. I accidentally added a ninth chapter of the first chapter, if you understand that. I was trying to change the chapter title setup and did something completely different, but the situation is fixed. There is no major update to the actual story.

...And no the evil I'm talking about is not the Yuuzhan Vong