Chapter 29

Everything was great, but Ezra and Sabine started getting bored for the lack of... well, anything they consider exciting. Everything was too quiet for them when it came to any fighting, but too loud when it came to being in the city. They began talking about finally moving to the old radio tower Ezra used to live in since it was outside the city. It was calm and quiet, and don't forget the impressive view.

The whole thing is ironic and they were so confused. Ezra also didn't want to sell his old house, either. It was pretty much the last thing he had of his parents.

"You could keep the house, but let somebody rent it," Sabine said.

"That's a great idea," Hera said. "Other people would live in this house, but you will still own it."

"Alright, I could do that," Ezra said, thinking it over. "Plus with the legal rent fees we'd still get some decent income."

"Exactly," Sabine said.

There wasn't much Ezra could do for work except teach a self defense class for the little ones who were not Force sensitive. He hasn't found any children that were sensitive, not including his own daughter.

Mira was incredibly intelligent for her age, which made her parents very proud. Of course she couldn't say big words or do big things just yet, though she was getting close to four years of age.

"I heard the radio tower was also cleaned up," Sabine said. "Of course nobody would get rid of anything they thought you would like to keep unless you were alright with it."

"They can toss the helmets and other junk, but I'll need to look through them," Ezra said.

Sabine smiled, "Of course you would."

Mira ran into the room, Dawn not too far from her. Dawn was already 5 years old, which Hera says makes her feel old. She even mentioned she and Kanan were talking of another child, but they weren't sure they want another one just yet.

Ezra stood up and started putting on a jacket, since it was cold outside. The forecast was predicting some snow within the next day or so.

"Where are you going, daddy?" Mira asked, tilting her head to the side.

"I'm just going to check something out. I shouldn't be long," Ezra said, kneeling down in front of her and messing with her hair.

Mira giggled as strands of blue hair flew around her head.

"Can I come with you?" she asked.

Ezra smiled, "I don't see why not, unless your mother says otherwise."

Sabine stood up, "Actually I'd like to help."

"We'll hold the fort here while you guys are out," Hera said.

Ezra sighed, "Alright, let's go."

"Yay!" Mira cheered, making both her parents laugh.

Ezra helped Mira get into her jacket while Sabine put on her armor. As a Mandalorian she usually never takes it off. They stepped out into the brisk, winter air.

"Ezra!" somebody shouted. Ezra turned to find Jason running up to him.

Ezra smiled as Jason stopped in front of him. "Hey, Jason! How's your family?"

"We're great! Where are you headed to?"

"I was just about to go up there, clean some things up," Ezra said.

"Why? That's just the old radio tower," Jason said.

"I used to live up there when I was alone in these streets," Ezra said. "That is, until I found Hera and Kanan."

"That's cool! At least you weren't completely homeless," Jason said.

Ezra chuckled, "No I guess I wasn't. Do your parents know you're out here?"

"Yeah. They're just around the corner and I said I was going to stop by and say hi."

"Alright. Tell them I said hi!" Ezra shouted after Jason. He was started to run back to his parents. "Oh, Jason, wait a second!"

Jason stopped running and looked back. "Yeah?"

Ezra jogged up to him and knelt to his level. He was actually pretty tall at 11 years.

"If your parents are looking for a new home, they can't rent mine," Ezra whispered.

"Really? Wait, why?"

"We're moving up to that tower, maybe," Ezra said.

"Alright, I can tell my parents," Jacen said before running around the corner back to his parents.

Ezra chuckled as he stood up and climbed onto the speeder.

…

Boxes were stacked along the walls, and each one was filled with all sorts of junk Ezra collected during his years of living there. He opened one box and noted the old stormtrooper helmets inside. He was creating an inventory roster for the clean up crews that would stop by later on while Sabine and Mira made a clearing.

"Why do I have so many helmets?" Ezra muttered as he checked off another box.

"That's what I want to know, cyar'ika," Sabine chuckled.

"Ezra?"

Ezra and Sabine tensed as they slowly turned to the one person they really did not want to see.

"I thought that was you," Delphine said.

Without hesitating, Ezra whipped out his lightsaber and activated it, the blade pointed at Delphine. Sabine pulled out a blaster with one hand while keeping Mira back with the other.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone like daggers.

"I'm not here to do anything... I'm actually here to apologize and ask for help," she said.

"Mommy, who is that?" Mira asked.

"It's nobody, ad'ika," Sabine said, but Mira was smarter than that.

"Then why are you and daddy pointing at her?"

"Is that your daughter?" Delphine asked.

"Answer me, first," Ezra demanded.

"I already told you, I wanted to apologize. Everything I did wasn't me," Delphine said.

"I don't buy it," Sabine growled.

"I swear on my life I wouldn't hurt you or her. The Empire did something in one of my missions before this all started," Delphine said.

"You had tensions before that mission," Ezra said.

"I know but I wouldn't do everything I did," she said.

"You remember everything you did," Sabine stated.

"Yes... I don't really know how to explain it..." she said.

"Ezra?"

He probed her mind and her feelings and nearly dropped his lightsaber in shock.

"Ezra, what is it?" Sabine asked.

"She... she's telling the truth..." Ezra said.

"You can't be serious," Sabine muttered.

"She's not lying, Mommy," Mira said and Sabine stared at her daughter.

"Mira?" Ezra asked.

"I can just tell," Mira said.

"Please, Sabine. I don't expect you to forgive me for all I've done, but what I said just now is all true," Delphine said.

"Sabine," Ezra said and she reluctantly holstered her blaster.

"What do you need?" Ezra asked.

"I snapped out of whatever they did to me years ago and did my best to avoid you. I never knew you had a daughter... she reminds me of my son," she said.

That really surprised everyone.

"S-Son?" Ezra stammered.

Delphine nodded, "That's why I'm here. The Empire took my son for the smallest thing he did."

"Which was?" Sabine asked.

"We were struggling to make a living. My husband died before our son was born and you wouldn't know him."

Ezra seemed to piece it together as she talked.

"He stole something from the market."

Delphine blinked, but nodded, "Yes. I can't get him out alone."

"Mommy, Daddy, we should take her home," Mira said.

"Mira, that's dangerous for all of us. I still don't think she's telling the truth," Sabine said.

"I don't expect you to believe me," Delphine said.

"I don't sense anything wrong, Sabine. We should give her a chance," Ezra said.

"I'm not endangering my family to whatever she wants us to do," Sabine said, her voice began to gain volume.

Mira wriggled past Sabine's arm and stood between the two of them.

"No!"

"What?" Ezra asked.

"No fighting!" Mira said.

"We're not fighting, sweetheart..." Sabine began.

"I'll just go... I'll give you time to think about it," Delphine said.

"Delphine, wait," Ezra said. "Head into the city and walk towards the central tower. Two blocks before you get there turn left and just down that street there's a line of houses. Mine is the second one down."

"Ezra!" Sabine shouted.

"I'm sorry, Sabine, but we can't just turn down a call for help, no matter who it's from," Ezra said.

"She's tried to ruined our family twice!"

Mira ran behind one of the boxes and hid.

"I understand that..."

"Do you?" Sabine snapped.

Ezra fell silent as Sabine continued. Delphine just stood at the doorway, arms folded to keep warm.

"You know what she did, Ezra. I shouldn't have to explain it to you," Sabine said. "I don't care if she said sorry, it doesn't change what she did in the past."

"You're right," Ezra muttered. "It doesn't, but look around you."

Ezra found Mira and got her from behind the boxes, though she was struggling. He sent wave after wave of happy thoughts and calmness to Mira through the Force.

"Yes, Delphine did a lot of bad things, and I never said I forgive her for that. But she didn't ruin our family, did she? Look at us now. We're happily living on Lothal, with an almost 4 year old daughter," Ezra said. "Don't live in the past, just look what you have today."

Sabine fell silent this time.

"I'm going to help Delphine whether you agree with me or not. I'm not happy that she's here, either, but I'm not turning my back to those who need help. Not while I can do something about it," Ezra continued.

They heard sobbing from the doorway and found Delphine crying.

"I… never wanted to..."

Sabine was completely lost in thought.

Ezra turned to Delphine, "How's the wrist?"

Delphine looked up at him and then down at the same wrist he shattered nearly 4 years ago.

"It's sore sometimes. I can still feel somethings out of place with it."

"I'm sorry I had to do that," Ezra said.

"No don't apologize. I didn't know what I was doing and I couldn't fight it," Delphine said.

"Go on ahead. Hera and Kanan are there, I'll let them know you are on your way," Ezra said.

Delphine slowly nodded and left.

Ezra tapped on his comm, "Hera, there's somebody on their way to the house. Don't be alarmed, but stay cautious."

"Who is it?" Hera asked.

"Eh... Delphine Katz," I said.

"What?"

"She'll explain everything, but stay alert for anything," I said before cutting comms.

"Ezra..." Sabine said.

Ezra stayed silent.

Sabine approached Ezra and slipped her hand into his. "I'm sorry for snapping..."

"You don't have to be sorry. I understand," he said.

"Are we going home now?" Mira asked, slightly shaking from the earlier argument.

"Yes, we're going. I think we've finished up here anyway," Ezra said.

They didn't say a word until they got back to the house, and they were met by a seemingly confused, but no less alert, Hera Syndulla.

"Hera..." Ezra began.

"Don't say anything. She already explained it and Kanan couldn't sense anything off about her explanation," Hera said. "How'd Sabine take it?"

Sabine just marched past Hera and into the house.

"Not too well, actually," Ezra replied.

"We can't blame her, either. Delphine did too much to not only you and her, but the entire rebellion. We're lucky we're still operational after everything she did."

I nodded and entered the house. Mira ran in front of me and locked herself in her room.

"What's Mira's deal?" Dawn asked.

"I don't want to talk about it. Our guest's sudden appearance is... bringing back old memories," Ezra said.

"How far back?"

"Since before you and Mira," Hera replied. "We'll explain everything once you are older."

Kanan entered the room.

"Are you going to talk to Sabine?" he asked.

"She needs her space," Hera said.

"We had an argument right after Delphine showed up. She doesn't trust her," Ezra said. "I'm not saying I trust her either, but I'm not turning my back if she needs help."

"You are a good man, Ezra," Hera said. "You always want to help."

"I just don't like the fact Sabine and I had to fight about it," Ezra said.

"That's normal in a family. There will always be something to fight about, but if two people really do love each other, they would stay together," Hera said. "If they didn't, that's when they split."

Ezra nodded, though it all sounded very strange.

"So what do we do about her?" Hera then asked Ezra, glancing over to Delphine.

"I think we should see what we're up against and help her get her son back," Ezra replied.

Kanan agreed. "It may not be what she deserves, but it's the right thing to do. We're not the Empire."

"No... we're not," Sabine said as she walked into the common room.

"Sabine..." I said as I stepped towards her.

"You're right, Ezra. We can't just turn our back on her. She did use to be one of us."

"Sabine..." Delphine muttered.

"I'll never forgive you for what you did to us, Delphine, but as Kanan said, we're not the Empire," Sabine said.

"Thank you," Delphine said.

"Ezra," Sabine said. "A word?"

"Of course," Ezra said as he followed Sabine down the hall and into their room. Sabine shut the door and locked it.

"I know you don't trust her, Sabine," Ezra said calmly.

"I know you know. I just wanted to say if she does anything, I'm taking the shot," Sabine said. "She's still under the shoot on sight order, remember?"

"I know."

"And helping her could be seen as treason against the Alliance?"

"Yes, I understand that, but the Rebellion doesn't need to be involved with this," Ezra said.

Sabine sighed and wrapped her hands around Ezra's neck. She pulled him into a hug.

"As much as I don't like this, I don't want you to go alone," Sabine said.

"Who ever said I was going to be alone?" Ezra asked.

"I'm going with you," Sabine corrected.

"Sabine..."

"No, Ezra. We watch each other's backs," Sabine said.

"Sabine, I trust you more than anybody in the galaxy and you know that," Ezra began, "but if something happened to you..."

"If I'm with you, nothing too bad will happen," Sabine said with a smirk.

"And you say I'm the cheesy one," Ezra chuckles. "I'm pretty sure you took that from one of the holomovies."

Sabine laughed softly, "Yeah I did."

…

"So you don't want us to come with?" Hera asked.

"We need you two to watch Mira for us," Sabine said. "Please Hera."

"I never thought I'd hear you beg me to let you help Delphine," Hera said. "No offense."

"None taken," Delphine said.

This was the old Delphine Katz, before she was sent on a top secret mission that even Hera doesn't know the details about, but what everybody knew was that she was the only survivor of that mission.

"Alright, we'll stay on the side lines, but don't be afraid to contact either us or the Alliance for assistance," Hera said.

"Thank you," Ezra said. "Alright, let's go."

"Don't go, daddy!" Mira shouted.

"Mira, if we don't help our guest, she'll never leave us alone," Ezra whispered.

"What do you mean?" Mira asked.

"We'll explain when you're older, cyar'ika," Sabine said. "Ezra, your armor is in the case on the Starbird."

Ezra nodded and rubbed the top of Mira's head, "We'll be back. Don't worry about it."

…

A little while later, the Starbird was in hyperspace on its way to whatever coordinates Delphine provided, which seemed a bit suspicious to Sabine and Ezra, but he still couldn't sense even a sliver of deceit from Delphine, who was also cuffed to one of the seats.

"When you think about it, if Mira was caught by the Empire we would do anything to get her back," Ezra said.

"I suppose, but... it's Delphine we're talking about," Sabine said.

"I know," Ezra sighed. "We're just going to have to see where this goes. No doubt the Empire has a trap set up, so we'll need to be ready for anything."

Sabine nodded in agreement and she strapped a piece of Ezra's Mando armor to his back.

"So what's the plan once we find this prison?" Sabine asked.

"I know you wouldn't trust me alone with Delphine, so I'm having T6 keep our engines hot for a quick escape. After we rescue her son... I don't know," Ezra replied.

"We can't take her in, and the Alliance won't, either," Sabine said. She didn't sound like she had a problem with it either.

"She'll have to go into hiding again. We didn't know where she went or what happened to her for almost 4 years so we know she can take care of herself," Ezra agreed.

For a few moments, the only sounds in the room was the clipping and clicking of beskar plates being clipped to Ezra's suit.

"Ezra?"

"Hm?"

Sabine stood in front of Ezra now, her hands running over his chestplate. "I'm starting to think... If Delphine was the only survivor of that mission, then what if the Empire just let her go to..."

"I don't think their goal was to ruin our relationship," Ezra said.

"I'm not saying it was," Sabine corrected herself, "I just meant... they did something that was supposed to cause chaos within our ranks. It would make us vulnerable to attack."

"They likely didn't know where our base was, but she could have revealed it," Ezra said.

"Perhaps... then yet again, she could have been fighting that part of it by... acting like she did," Sabine said. She pressed her hand to her temples, "This is making my head hurt..."

"I think I know where you're getting at... and yeah it seems very hard to explain."

"I'm going to talk to Delphine," Sabine said. "I finished strapping the harder pieces so you can finish up yourself."

"Alright," Ezra said as Sabine left the room.

Sabine walked into the cockpit and found Delphine just sitting in the seat she was cuffed to.

"Delphine?" Sabine asked.

Delphine turned her head to look at Sabine.

Sabine sat in the seat across from her. "You need to explain something to me."

Delphine nodded, "Alright."

"This mission... what was it?"

"I needed to escort a top priority convoy. Where it was going to I didn't know. I was just supposed to follow the ship. We never made it to our destination because the Empire cut us off from our route.

"Every single ship was shot up... I took a hit to the power core of my A-wing so I was just floating about... they picked me up and did stuff. What exactly they were doing I don't know that either. All I know was that I woke up and was ordered to return to our base and... put simply, break something. Break your backs."

"So you were ordered to cause chaos?" Sabine asked.

Delphine nodded, "Afterwards I was supposed to send the Empire a transmission that would bring them to Yavin. Obviously, I never did."

"Well they still found us eventually," Sabine said. "We know how, too so I'm not blaming you for that much. But how do you explain stealing Ezra from me?"

"Their... whatever it was interacted with my feelings. They figured that if they made me believe the Alliance abandoned me to the Empire, I would reveal our location, but the thing is, I knew you guys wouldn't do that. But your relationship with Ezra sparked the... whatever it is, mind control thing, I guess, into acting. I knew what I was doing, and I couldn't fight it."

"And did you get rid of this control thing?" Sabine asked.

"It was an experimental injection, I think. It only lasted 2 years," Delphine said.

"How can you tell?" Sabine asked then.

"My mind felt clear for the first time since that mission," Delphine replied.

Ezra entered the cockpit then, wearing his Mandalorian armor.

"So, what's new?" he asked.

"She explained why she did everything in the past," Sabine said.

"I don't believe I'd get any better with you two," Delphine said.

"Not me, but I'm starting to feel sorry this happened to you," Sabine said.

"We can give you some supplies to start off. Food, medical supplies, all the basics," Ezra said to Delphine.

"Ezra, are you sure that's alright?" Sabine asked.

"Hera contacted me. I explained what I knew and we had a three way transmission to Alliance command. They've agreed to drop charges, surprisingly, as long as she stays away from the Alliance, and us," Ezra explained.

"I'll try to contact them and add what I know," Sabine said.

Ezra nodded and Sabine left the cockpit.

"I'm guessing I'm still going to be cuffed to this chair?" she asked.

"I'm afraid so. We have to keep an eye on you," Ezra said.

Delphine nodded, "Understood."

T6 rolled into the cockpit from his charging port in the cargo bay and beeped a hello.

"Is that your own astromech?" Delphine asked.

"Yup. It was a wedding gift from the Alliance," Ezra replied with a smile. "You all charged, T6?"

T6 beeped a yes and spun his dome happily, making Delphine laugh.

"Cheery little droid, isn't he?"

"He is," Ezra replied. "And I'm going to task him with watching you. If you try anything, it won't work, I can guarantee that."

"Let me guess, Sabine?" Delphine asked.

Ezra nodded, "You know how she is with tech and weapons. T6, let me know when we're coming up at our destination. Delphine, you should rest while you can."

"Like I've got any other choice," she muttered.