Chapter 8: A New Threat

A New Threat:

Captain Hark and his fellow Super Commandoes were feeling rather like the rotten Yogans in the bushel of fruit. Almost every single Mando in the camp was giving them dirty looks and avoiding them like they carried the plague. A few had even gone so far as to spit at their feet, one of the worst insults you could deal a fellow Mando.

After ten minutes of this, Jett came to the conclusion that it was time for drastic measures. He needed a paint gun and he needed one now. All this Imperial white needed to go. And getting rid of the Imperial symbols on their bodysuits wouldn't hurt either. White was a rare color on Mandalorian armor for a reason that went back millennia; it was too Shabla easy to see.

And right now, he and his men felt like walking targets.

He'd like to just fly home to the Saxon Stronghold, but Jett was now stuck in a strange limbo position. He'd declared loyalty to the new Mand'alor, but aside from him and his men, there were no other Saxons here. Which meant the clan was not allied with her. At least not yet. He fully intended to change that.

With Tiber Saxon now assuredly deceased, the rightful heir of the Countship fell back to Gar Saxon's son, Drago, but the boy was only ten years old; much too young to lead. The next two in line had been cousins, but they'd both been killed yesterday by the Wrens before the Duchess had done its vile work. The power vacuum at the Saxon stronghold would cause a great deal of chaos as soon as people found out, which he assumed would be very shortly. Bad news had a way of traveling in the speediest of fashions despite all the odds against it.

Jett had every intention of filling that power vacuum and taking over as Count of Clan Saxon. But it was best if he bid his time, letting the other power-seekers fight each other first, wearing themselves out. With the right timing, he should be able to walk right in, challenge whoever was left standing, and take command.

So that meant he was going to stay here for a day or so and make nice with the other clans. But they weren't going to trust him as long as he looked like an Imperial.

With his men trailing behind him, Jett made his way back to Mand'alor Kryze's vicinity, wishing he'd never left it in the first place. At least when they were near her, people left them alone.

She was currently talking to Fenn Rau and Alrich Wren of all people. Just his luck. The leader of the Protectors was bound to have a hate-on for him for what he'd done under orders to the Protectors, and he'd been taunting Wren about seeing Sundari for the last time just yesterday while on their way to the man's scheduled public execution. Karma was really coming around to bite him in the shebs now, wasn't it?

Telling himself to suck it up, he approached the group and interrupted their conversation when there was a hint of a pause in it. "Pardon me, my Lady, but I was wondering if you happened to have a supply of black and red paint lying around somewhere?"

All three of them turned their focus on him and his men, a light of understanding dawning in their eyes as they took in the white armor and Imperial symbols, and the nasty looks being cast at their group from anyone how happened to glance their way.

"I'm afraid I do not," Kryze said in apology.

Rau crossed his arms over his chest and just looked smug, the bastard. He was enjoying this. "Serves you right for following Saxon and what you did to my men."

"I only followed the orders of my Count and Governor like a good Mando," Jett replied, crossing his arms in return. "It was nothing personal."

Rau raised a brow in blatant disbelief for a moment. "So Bo-Katan was telling me. I find that hard to believe, but I will accept that for now. It's the only reason I'm not calling you out as we speak. But if you ever give me any reason to doubt your loyalty to our new Mand'alor, I will kill you."

Jett smirked under his helmet. He'd like to see the older man try. But for the sake of keeping the peace, all he said was, "Understood."

"My daughter may have some paint," Wren said, adding his voice to the conversation. "But I doubt it's black. She's generally inclined towards brighter colors." His mouth was twitching with amusement at what he undoubtedly felt was well-deserved payback.

Both Rau and Kryze snorted softly at what was definitely an understatement as Jett thought about the new Countess Wren's armor and purple paint bomb she'd hit Wren's transport with. Bright colors indeed. "We'll take what we can get," Jett said in a resigned tone, his men shifting on their feet in dismay, but too well disciplined to say anything. "I'll ask her," he said as he saw the young woman in question appear at the top of the ramp of the Wren colored Kom'rk.

Jett felt a great deal of admiration and a definite attraction for the vibrant female. He'd had more than a few encounters with her so far, almost all of which included him getting hurt in some fashion.

The first time he'd met her if you could call it that, had been more than half a year ago when he'd chased her and the young Jedi all over Concord Dawn's moon. He'd been shot out of the sky by a blaster bolt returned right to him from the Jedi's Lightsaber and crashed to the ground of the canyon in a spectacular fashion. He'd come out of that one with a dislocated shoulder and bruises. Sucking up the pain, he caught up in time to see her hold her own against Gar Saxon in a no-holds-barred fight, which was no easy feat. Gar Saxon was a brutal fighter and had no qualms about fighting dirty, as he knew firsthand.

Encounter number two occurred on Krownest in the Wren Stronghold. Instead of capturing the two Jedi, he and his men had been defeated by the Wrens, and Gar Saxon once again went up against Sabine Wren. From his kneeling position in the great room, with a blaster pointed at his head and his arm burning like a son-of-a-Hutt from where the older Jedi had redirected his own shot back at him (really got to stop aiming at the Jedi), he'd seen glimpses of their fight over the frozen lake. She had been spectacular, defeating Gar Saxon at his own game with the legendary Darksaber and a green one that belonged to the younger Jedi. For some reason that he didn't understand, she had let Saxon live. But her mother had ended his leader's life when Gar Saxon moved to shoot Sabine in the back. (A very dishonorable act that he deserved to die for.)

Encounter number three had been in Sundari. She and her brother had come to the city to seek out information on the whereabouts of her father, who was being held in the Saxon Stronghold at the time. Despite being very young, Tristan Wren had been one of his best Commandoes and was well on his way to earning the rank of second in command. Jett had also considered him to be a good friend. To see him once again wearing Wren colors had felt like a slap in the face and also inspired a twinge of jealousy that Tristan got to look like a Mando again as opposed to a glorified stormtrooper. Before they could get in trouble with any other Imperials, he'd called for backup and then chased them out of the city. He'd ordered his men to fire warning shots only, not quite able to bring himself to shoot at Tristan or his very hot older sister for real.

Encounter number four was just yesterday when he'd been in command of the convoy transporting her father to Sundari. He'd seen her slender outline flying around through the purple paint as reports came in over his HUD from troopers and commandoes alike that they had been taken out of the game and that there were at least three Mandos and two Jedi attacking the convoy. The report had been verified when a green lightsaber had thrust its way up through the console, barely missing killing the driver. He'd gone to look under the transport but had seen nothing. Not even a minute later, he'd been kicked out of the speeding transport by the young Jedi, hitting the ground hard and dislocating the same shoulder again since it was now prone to it. At this rate, he'd end up with a mechanical right arm before he was thirty, since, over the course of his lifetime, he'd dislocated it about a dozen times, broken it twice, and been shot in the elbow. He was sure the med droids were making bets against the survival of his arm.

And lastly, he'd seen her early this morning as Tiber Saxon tortured her with her own weapon design. (And him too, the shabuir. He never did like him much.) To turn it around on him in only a minute of fiddling had been bloody brilliant and then to lock him to it as the machine went haywire... He didn't think he'd ever find a more suitable warrior female that would compliment him better.

Jett wanted her for himself.

There was just one problem. And he was currently walking down the ramp with his fingers interlaced with hers. Jett scowled at the sight of the young Jedi poaching on his prize. What was she doing letting a Jedi scum touch her? It was bad enough she worked with one, but understandable since the Jedi were formidable warriors and got things done.

She looked amazingly beautiful at the moment. Her eyes sparkled. Her cheeks had a rosy tint to them. Her lips were redder and plumper than he remembered and curved sweetly in a joyful smile. She was entirely focused on the Jedi as they strolled down the ramp, their eyes never leaving the others. Jett wanted to be the one to make her look that happy. He had so much more to offer than the Jedi. All he had to do was make her see it.

"You go get Kanan," she was saying. "And I'll talk to Bo-Katan about having a meeting about my grand plan."

"Sure," the Jedi said eagerly. He kissed her cheek and was turning to leave, but Sabine hadn't let go of his fingers yet. He turned back with a raised brow when his arm stretched out. "Was there something else?"

Sabine grinned at him. "I just wanted to tell you that you've accomplished what no other person has ever done."

"And what's that?" the boy said curiously. And he was a boy. He was clearly younger than her, not even filled out yet into full manhood. What did she see in him?

She flicked her eyes towards the interior of the ship. "You made me forget my helmet for an entire minute," she said in a tone of mock horror and disbelief.

His eyes widened comically. "No!" He raised his free hand to his heart as if to still it. "I'll have to tell the galaxy's news stations that I, Ezra Bridger, have made Countess Sabine Wren forget her helmet for the first time in her life. It will be the juiciest piece of gossip ever heard, cause everyone knows that the famous artist warrior is never more than a meter from her helmet at any given time." He lowered his voice down to a conspiratorial tone. "It's even said she takes it to the refresher with her."

Sabine was giggling as she swatted him playfully on the shoulder. "Stop, you goofball, and get going before you start weird rumors about me." She grabbed him by the shoulders, turned him around, and pushed him towards the red and black Kom'rk that he'd overheard a few people gossiping about. It seemed the ship used to belong to Maul and was now owned by the Jedi boy. Between that and Sabine having possession of the Darksaber until she GAVE it to Bo-Katan has made everyone both wary and semi-respectful of the pair of young people. If they could defeat Maul, then they must be formidable indeed.

The Jedi turned back around so he was walking backwards, grinning widely. "But you like my goofy side, Sabine. And besides, even if people start gossiping about you, I know you'll kick them back into submission and have fun doing it, so it's all good."

She shook her white and purple head at him as she started walking back up the ramp. "You know me too well, Ezra Bridger."

He stopped when his foot bumped into the ramp of his ship. "Ditto, Sabine Wren," he called across the distance. They exchanged a look for a long-drawn-out moment before he turned and leapt up the whole ramp in one effortless bound, making Jett blink in surprise.

Sabine sighed softly and then disappeared back inside her ship.

Jett glanced at her father and found him smiling indulgently, apparently perfectly fine with his daughter's choice of boyfriend. Rau was also smiling like a pleased parent. And Kryze had an amusing slant to her lips as she shook her head.

"I did not think that choosing a Jedi was the wisest thing Sabine could have done, especially now that she is going to be under the scrutiny of so many," Kryze said to Wren when he focused on her. "But they have clearly bonded already and he has proven himself to be honorable and a useful ally. She will have my support."

"Thank you, Mand'alor," Wren said with a bow of his head. "I appreciate that very much."

"Please, Alrich," Kryze said with a roll of her eyes. "We've known each other for decades. Stick with Bo-Katan."

"As you wish," he said with a smile.

"I'm going to go ask Countess Wren about paint," Jett interjected, and then took off before anyone could object, giving his men a subtle hand signal to stay put.

He was seething that everyone important seemed to be perfectly fine with Sabine choosing a Jedi. So what if they were friends? That didn't mean she couldn't choose someone else as a husband. Jett was determined to at least try and change her mind. And failing that, maybe he could scare the Jedi off. Then she'd have to choose someone else. A true Mandalorian warrior like her deserved so much better than a Jedi scumbag BOY.

He strode up the ramp with determined strides, catching her returning to the cargo bay with her helmet tucked under her arm.


Sabine was feeling very light and carefree at the moment thanks to Ezra. Possibly a little giddy even, and she was not one to be 'giddy'. Stars, she'd missed him these last few months. She'd missed the easy camaraderie of her entire Ghost family, in fact. Which was why she was liking her newest idea for Lothal more and more.

Krownest just didn't feel like home anymore. Not even when her mother and brother were there with her. And now that they were gone? Sabine just couldn't see herself making the winter planet her long-term home whether she was Countess Wren or not.

With any luck, Bo-Katan, Fenn, and her father would also be agreeable to her idea. It would work out to everyone's benefit, in the long run, she was pretty sure.

Mentally crossing her fingers for the coming meeting, she bent down and grabbed her helmet off the floor, sighing over the new scuff mark in the paint from her mistreatment of it. Good thing she'd brought her paints with her so she could fix it. But then again, she always had her paints with her, in one form or another. If the opportunity to paint her Phoenix symbol on something Imperial presented itself, she just couldn't stop herself from doing so.

Turning back around, she gave her helmet a thorough inspection as she walked, finding a few more little scuffs that needed attention from the day's activities. And if she looked closely enough, the entire paint job actually looked a little bit frazzled and blurred, courtesy of the Duchess. Frowning, she glared down at her chest plate and found the same problem. Grrrr. Now she'd have to repaint the entire set as soon as she had some time. It would bug her to no end if she didn't.

The good news was that she had been thinking about changing up her armor again soon anyway. Maybe to something that more reflected her new attachment to Ezra. Something with a lot bluer in it.

Walking into the cargo hold, she paused in surprise to see someone else coming in from the ramp side. "Can I help you with something, Captain?" she asked the Super Commando that she'd encountered a few too many times in the past for her liking, but she was giving him the benefit of the doubt in regards to his new loyalties until he did something to prove otherwise. Tristan had said he wasn't as bad as he could be, too, considering the viper pit he originated from.

He pulled off his helmet, revealing his face to her for the first time. He was younger than she was expecting; mid-twenties maybe. His features were pleasantly put together in a rugged way. His head was covered in short black hair that was very similar to Ezra's current cut but didn't shine blue under the lights, making it a true black. His eyes reminded her of Imperial grey hallways and the smile on his mouth didn't reach them.

Sabine still didn't like him.

"Your father said you would be my best bet to find some paint for my armor and that of my men's," he said genially. Glancing down at his almost entirely white armor with a hint of red ruefully, he added, "We're not feeling very welcome at the moment."

"I don't know why," Sabine said, trying to rein in the sarcasm but failing miserably. "You were fighting for the wrong team just yesterday."

He shrugged apologetically. "Just following the Head of my Clan. But they're all deceased now and there is no one left to follow." He puffed his chest out self importantly. "I'm going to fight for the title of Count Saxon when I get home. Then the whole clan will follow the Mand'alor."

Sabine was getting the impression that she was supposed to be impressed by this. She wasn't. She smiled indulgently anyway to help this move along a little faster. "Good luck with that. As far as painting your armor goes, I don't have enough to cover all that white on nine sets in anything resembling a matching fashion, so I won't even try. As far as the Imperial symbols go, have you thought about simply taking off your armor and bodysuit since the symbols are on the upper arms of the bodysuit? There must be nine spare shirts or tunics lying around here somewhere. Go find them. Or kriff, borrow a cape and go buy some new bodysuits from the city and a bucket of paint in the color of your choosing. It's not rocket science."

He blinked at her stupidly for a few seconds, frowned, and then visibly forced himself to smile. "That is a very good idea. I feel stupid for not thinking of it myself. Thank you for your time." Sabine's opinion of him rose half a fraction because he managed to be gracious about it.

"You're welcome," she said as she passed him and walked down the ramp with the ex-Imperial traitor following her.

Ezra was waiting for her at the bottom of the ramp, watching them curiously. "What did he want?" he asked quietly as they watched him walk back to his men and Bo-Katan only a dozen meters away.

"He wanted me to paint all of their armor," she murmured, rolling her eyes slightly. "I also got the feeling he was trying to impress me."

Ezra glanced at her. "Another of the multitudes of men you've had to turn down?" he teased in a whisper, his beautiful blue eyes smiling at her.

Sabine rolled her eyes harder, shoving him with her shoulder. "Something like that. Anyway, keep an eye out for him. Something tells me he's not done in his attempts to get on my good side. And we all know what kind of environment he was raised in. Backstabbing and treachery are probably in his nature."

"Got it," Ezra whispered back with a smirk, obviously not worried about anything the commando could dish out. He raised his voice back to normal. "Kanan will be out in a minute, along with Hera in hologram form. I hope that's okay?"

"Of course," Sabine said as she started walking towards Bo-Katan, Fenn, and her father. "Now I just have to convince everyone that my idea is worth the risk."

"And what is your idea?" Ezra asked.

"Yes, we've all been wondering that ourselves," Bo-Katan called as Captain Hark and his men marched off in the direction of her Kom'rk, and Kanan and Chopper emerged from the Gauntlet. "What scheme are you hatching now, Sabine Wren?"

Sabine grinned to everyone as they assembled around her and Hera's hologram flickered to life via Chopper, drawing out the moment for effect. "A really good one. What do you think of adding the Lothal system to Mandalorian controlled space?"

Everyone stared at Sabine for two whole seconds of shocked silence before there was an eruption of voices.

"Out of the question!" (Fenn)

"It's simply not feasible." (Bo-Katan)

"Why would we do that?" (Alrich)

"I doubt the Lothalians would be impressed with the idea." (Hera)

"How does that help anything?" (Ezra)

"She's officially lost it." (Chopper)

"What the hell?" (Passing bystander who almost fell over as they whipped back around to see who'd said such a ridiculous thing.)

"I haven't lost it!" Sabine said passionately into the momentary vacuum of silence before anyone could say anything else. "I think this would benefit everyone if you'd just hear me out."

Kanan was the only one who hadn't said a word. He had his arms crossed and his eyes closed behind his mask (automatic reflex) as he searched the feelings of the Force on the matter. He wasn't feeling anything negative. "I think we should listen to Sabine," he spoke up. "And somewhere more private would probably be a good idea," he added with a nod of his chin towards the few people who'd been close enough to overhear and had all frozen and were visibly straining to hear what would be said next.

"Thank you, Kanan," Sabine said gratefully. She'd thought more people would be open to the idea, but apparently, she was going to have convince them.

Bo-Katan glanced around them, raising an imperious brow at the gawkers. They instantly made themselves look busy and walking elsewhere. "I'm afraid the whole camp is going to know within a minute and all of Mandalore within the hour, but we might as well go to the Command Tent and have the rest of this discussion in peace."

So they all trekked across camp to the big tent. As he walked beside her, Ezra shot Sabine a questioning look. "Are you sure about this?" he asked in a barely audible whisper.

"Trust me," she mouthed back, not quite a question.

"All right," Ezra said, linking his fingers with hers to show his support.

Sabine smiled at him gratefully and squeezed his hand.

They assembled in the tent and Bo-Katan focused on Sabine. "Okay, Wren. Explain how you think this is supposed to work. I'm going to have my hands full as it is re-establishing control of the current Mandalorian Systems. Adding another one is not something I was even contemplating."

Sabine set her helmet down on a table and took a deep breath to settle her thoughts. "First off, I just came up with this idea like ten minutes ago, so bear with me." She looked at everyone with her big eyes sincere and just a little bit pleading. "I once vowed to Ezra that I would never give up on helping him free his planet and I have no intention of breaking that vow."

Ezra shot a beaming smile at her. "That's true. It was after one of our practice sessions with the Darksaber," he explained to Kanan and Hera's hologram, who were looking curious. "I asked her what she would do if she actually did become the next Mand'alor."

"And I said I would free Mandalore, but no matter what I did in the future, I wouldn't forget about Lothal, and I meant it; it's your home." Sabine's eyes locked with Ezra's for a moment before she faced the others. "And as far as I'm concerned, aside from the Ghost, Lothal is my home too. And the Empire is destroying it."

"But Krownest is your home," Alrich said in a reasonable tone that barely disguised the hurt.

"I'm sorry, Father, but Krownest hasn't been my home since I was twelve and was shipped off to the Academy here in Sundari."

Alrich's head bowed as he thought about that, eyes sorrowful.

"But you're the Countess now," Fenn said. "You have to call Krownest your home."

"Do I?" Sabine said with a raised brow. "What if I said I wanted to move Clan Wren to Lothal and establish Mandalorian control over the planet? Moving a Clan's main stronghold is not without precedent by any stretch of the imagination."

"This is true," Bo-Katan said. "My own homeworld of Kalevala was taken over by my parents while it was in a state of chaos. It flourishes now with prosperity. I have no objections to you moving your clan, but what do you intend to do about Krownest? You can't just leave it empty. Someone must continue to protect the covert diamond mining operations already in place. You and I both know we need the steady income of those credits now more than ever."

Sabine smiled slightly at this in Fenn's direction. "No. I wasn't going to do that. I was thinking Fenn Rau was the perfect person to assume control of the planet. You lost your base by Concord Dawn because Kanan and I kidnapped you; it is only fair that I give you another one. I'm sure there would be plenty of volunteers to start up the Protectors again once they knew you were looking."

Fenn looked shocked at first and then drifted into intrigued. "I would not be opposed to this idea," he said stroking his jaw as he thought. "I've even been approached by a few warriors who were curious to see if I was re-establishing the Journeyman Protectors again, but I had no base and nothing to protect."

"Well, now you do," Sabine said with a grin. "I will not force my clan members to leave Krownest if they really want to stay, so you might end up with a few already on-site volunteers."

"That is fine with me," Fenn said. "I like your clan."

"I noticed," Sabine said with a smirk. "You've been living with us for months."

"Pardon me," Hera said, interjecting. "But what does this mean for Lothal exactly? Assuming we can chase the Empire out of the system, that is. And are you including Garel? Because it's just the next system over and only a seven-minute hyperjump. I doubt you could keep the Empire off Lothal if they still have control of Garel."

"Those are good questions, Hera," Sabine said. "As far as Lothal is concerned, just like Krownest and Kalevala, the reigning clan would oversee and protect the planet. I would put Ryder back in power as the Governor since he has experience with the job and someone has to deal with the day to day running of things, but he would answer to me in regards to major decisions like establishing a new military, mining concerns, and expanding the current infrastructure."

"That sounds reasonable," Hera said. "What do you think, Ezra? It's your planet."

"I'm all for it if it means Sabine lives on Lothal with me and not me on Krownest with her. The snow's pretty and all, but I'm definitely a summer person." Ezra grinned at Sabine as she snorted in amusement.

Everyone chuckled once or twice.

"But seriously," Ezra continued, finding a mature stance. "I actually really like this idea. Lothal is suffering under Imperial rule. Suffering badly. I doubt there would be too many protestors to a new ruler who promised them peace and prosperity."

"That's all well and good," Kanan said. "But Hera's right. What about Garel?"

"I've been thinking about that," Sabine said. "The Imperial presence there is minimal at best at the moment. They're concentrating on Lothal big time with their factories and mining operations. Bo-Katan, Hera, if we helped the Rebellion clean out Garel first, do you think Rebel Command would be interested in using Garel as a secondary base of operations? This would mean that Mandalore would support the Rebellion in a passive fashion since I know you don't have enough forces to contribute to the cause full time, but that would also make Mothma and Organa happy. I know they've been trying to get Mandalorian support for years."

Bo-Katan didn't even have to think about it. "I have no problem with allying with the Rebel Alliance, but as you said, I cannot promise any ships or warriors for their fight. But they can use Mandalorian hyperspace routes and will have sanctuary on any of our planets. Once we have control of our farming planets again, I can also provide supplies as needed."

Hera was almost speechless. "Oh my. I had no idea this was where this discussion was heading. I can't speak for Command, being only a Captain, but I think they'll be all for it. As a trading planet, Garel is a perfect location for another base, as we know from when Phoenix Cell was located there. I'll talk to them first thing in the morning. It's three a.m. here if anyone was wondering."

"What are you doing up?" Sabine said curiously.

Kanan winced. "That was my bad. I forgot the time difference and woke her up with my call."

Hera's hologram looked at Kanan affectionately. "Trust me, I didn't mind, love."

More than a few eyebrows rose at her tone and Kanan's resultant flush that appeared on the skin not covered by his mask or beard. Sabine and Ezra fake shuddered since they knew what that tone meant. Kanan and Hera weren't exactly their parents, but the relationship between all of them was close enough to make no difference. And no child wanted to think too much about the parental units' love life.

To get the attention off him and Hera, Kanan focused on Sabine. "So what is your actual plan then of how to make this happen? I'm sure we're all dying of curiosity. Lothal is currently blockaded by at least twenty Star Destroyers and under the personal supervision of Grand Admiral Thrawn. What you want to do and what is actually possible seem like two vastly different things right now."

Everyone stared at Sabine as they nodded in agreement with Kanan. She stood taller under their focus, a determined set to her jaw. "I know the odds are stacked against it, but I just know this is the right thing to do."

"It feels right to me," Ezra said supportively.

"We're listening," Bo-Katan added.

"Right," Sabine said on an exhale. "First, I have to go to Krownest and talk to my clan."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Alrich said, having been quiet for a long time now. "I will support you in this endeavor, Daughter, even though I think it might not be well received by many. "I owe you too much, and I owe your Jedi my life. I see that this means a lot to both of you."

"Thank you, Father," Sabine said with a sweet smile in his direction. "Next, I think just a small party, probably consisting of just our Ghost crew, Hera, if you're up for it, are going to sneak onto Lothal and do some scouting and planning. We need to know exactly what our opponents are up to and what targets to hit since we haven't been there for months."

"You know I'm more than willing to do that," Hera said, "But there's no way I'm getting anywhere near that blockade with the Ghost; I'm pretty sure every Imperial officer in the galaxy knows my ship. We can't take the Gauntlet either. A Mando ship would stick out like a sore thumb."

"I have an idea of how to get on the planet," Ezra said with a hesitant grin. "But you're not going to like it."

Kanan shook his head at Ezra. "If you say Visago, Hondo, or Calrissian, then yep, you're right. We don't like it."

Ezra's grin widened. "Then I won't say it." He turned his focus to Sabine. "What's after that, Cyar'ika?"

Sabine melted a little at the term of affection in front of the others. "Then we get off-planet again in whatever fashion is necessary, meet up with Clan Wren and whatever ships Rebel Command wants to send and we take Garel. Then we have a staging ground for the battle for Lothal. I was hoping we could come up with some kind of diversion to get most or even all of Thrawn's fleet to leave orbit so we could take control of the ground and blow up the Imperial Dome and their factories."

"Ambitious, but not insane," Bo-Katan said with a hint of admiration in her voice. "Your plan has definite potential. I would even send some fighters if you could remove most of the ISDs from the area. As we proved today, we can handle two Star Destroyers at a time with a fleet of about a hundred fighters. If the Rebels also sent the same number, you have a real shot of making this happen."

Sabine beamed with pride and gratitude. "Thank you. I told you that this idea would benefit everyone in the long run."

"You were right," Hera said. "Now we just have to get Rebel Command on board. And as I said, I'll talk to them first thing in the morning. In the meantime, everyone should start thinking of a good way to draw Thrawn's fleet away from the planet. And don't say flaunt the Ghost at them and then just fly a little faster than their laser cannons can reach."

"Awww," Sabine pouted playfully. "I was totally going to suggest that," she teased.

Hera scowled for a moment as Chopper beeped out laughter.

"I actually have an idea for that too," Ezra said tentatively. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously as everyone focused on him curiously.

"What?" Kanan said. "It can't be that bad?" he asked, sensing his Padawan's reluctance to say his idea.

Ezra winced. "Weellllll. It kind of is. And I doubt anyone's going to believe me."

"Just spit it out, Ezra. I promise we won't laugh," Sabine said, nudging him with her shoulder when he was silent too long.

Still making a face, he said, "You remember the Purrgil?"

"I don't think we're ever going to forget them," Hera said dryly.

"What about them?" Kanan said encouragingly.

"When I saved their food supply, they promised to help me once in return. They said I would know when the time was right and they gave me a frequency to use to call them." Ezra peered out from under his brows to see how everyone was taking that.

There were a lot of gaping mouths.

"Are you saying the Purrgil are intelligent beings?" Sabine said the first to put the clues together.

Ezra nodded eagerly. "That's exactly what I'm saying. I think they could come and chase the Star Destroyers out of the system. They might even be able to do a great deal of damage if they wanted to."

"Wait," Alrich demanded, brain finally wrapping around everyone's words. "Are you saying you can talk to animals?"

"It's a Jedi thing, I believe," Bo-Katan said.

"Yes, I can," Ezra said matter of factly. "All Jedi can, to some extent, but Kanan says I'm better than most. And it's not talking so much as communicate feelings and impressions. The Purrgil though, TALKED to me. Telepathically. They're really quite amazing. It's kind of like the Ghost, an A.I. computer, and a space whale decided to get together and have a baby. That's what the Purrgil are like."

"How come you never told us the Purrgils were intelligent?" Hera demanded. "I thought you were just commanding them like you do with all the other animals you encounter."

Ezra shrugged and winced some more. "I didn't think you'd believe me, so I didn't bother?"

Hera and Kanan sighed in unison. "Of course we believe you," Hera said soothingly. "Though this brings up some interesting issues about what to do with the Purrgil race."

"Someone can have that debate at another time," Kanan told her. "For now, it's nice to know we have a viable option to chase Thrawn's fleet from the system. And we all know the Purrgil are more than capable of scaring the living daylights out of any ship's Captain, so it should work."

"That's settled then," Sabine said happily. "My plan really does look like it will work, doesn't it? Everyone's happy with my ideas?" She received a series of nods and, "I ams," mostly in synch.

"I think all your ideas are brilliant," Ezra said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and giving her a half hug and a kiss on the cheek. "But I'm not surprised at all; your ideas are always brilliant."

"Suck up," Sabine replied to him fondly, putting her own arm around his waist and leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Yep," Ezra said with a grin. "And proud of it." He kissed the top of her head and sighed happily into her hair. "Force, it's nice to be able to hold you without a really good excuse like the time you twisted your ankle. I've been dreaming of doing this for years."

That elicited a round of laughter as Sabine's face turned red and she hid it in his shirt. "So I'm a little slow," she mumbled into it. "Feel free to sue me."

Ezra chuckled. "I wouldn't dare," he said, hugging her more fully by adding a second arm. "You could talk circles around any lawyer in your sleep."

Sabine looked up at him and laughed. "Very true."

Kanan, Hera, Alrich, and even Fenn were watching the absolute adorableness that was blossoming right in front of them with that happy and indulgent look parents have. Bo-Katan was wondering how she'd gone for so many years without finding a mate to hug and tease like that. She glanced at Fenn assessingly yet again, thinking that she might just have found someone to fill the empty space in her life. Maybe she should corner him somewhere private and try kissing him to see if there was any chemistry. From the way he'd been looking at her, she didn't think he'd mind.

Feeling rather content with how everything was working out, Kanan turned his focus back to Chopper and thus Hera's hologram. "It sounds like things are pretty much decided here, for the time being, Hera. Why don't you try and get a few more hours of sleep?"

Hera raised a brow at him, even though he couldn't see it. "You're not trying to get rid of me, are you?"

"Wouldn't think of it, darling," Kanan said reassuringly. "I'm just trying to be helpful."

Hera snorted, then said teasingly, "You keep telling yourself that, love. Sometimes, it might even be true." She focused on the group as a whole again. "Is Kanan right, though? Are we done for now?"

That inspired everyone to look at each other with questioning eyes and shrugging shoulders.

Bo-Katan made the decision by saying, "I'd say we're done here, Captain Syndulla. Have Command contact me to talk about an alliance."

"Will do. Thank you, Mand'alor Kryze."

Bo-Katan nodded regally. "You're welcome. But please, feel free to call me by my given name in informal settings like this."

Hera smiled. "Of course, Bo-Katan. And please call me Hera." Bo-Katan nodded. Hera gave everyone one last glance. "Goodbye for now then. I'll be in touch." She gave Kanan an extra special smile that he, unfortunately, couldn't see. "Thank you for calling me, Kanan. I'm glad I got to be part of this. Come back as soon as you can talk Ezra into it. I'm going to catch a few more hours of sleep."

Kanan smiled sweetly back. "Night, Hera."

Ezra, Sabine, and Chopper then added to the well-wishing by all saying, "Night, Hera," too at the exact same time.

Hera smiled at her 'kids'. "Be good, my Little Spectres. Oh, and I'm happy you've finally gotten together. I'm proud of you," she said, her eyes shining even through the hologram. Then she disappeared as she turned off the comm from her end.


While Hera was talking, Bo-Katan had raised an amused brow at the synchronous 'good nights' and said quietly to Fenn, "You'd think they'd practiced that."

Fenn shook his head. "Not so much practiced on purpose as practiced from doing it for so long. They really are a family."

"I think I see that."

Alrich sighed forlornly. "I know I do. I'm glad my daughter found a new family, but it hurts more than I can say to know that she had to look for one in the first place."

"Makes you wish there was a do-over button, doesn't it?" Bo-Katan said sympathetically.

Alrich nodded and sighed again, watching his daughter and the two Jedi huddle together around the Astro-mech and have their own conversation. "After watching them for only a day, I've already seen how much they all love each other. I'm sure she sees Master Jarrus as a second father and I can guarantee she's never looked at Ursa with as much fondness as she just did Captain Syndulla. If there was such a thing as a do-over button, I would refuse to let Ursa send Sabine to the Academy, despite how smart she is. Everything would be so different now if she'd never left home."

"If it's any consolation, Alrich," Fenn said softly, "Despite everything she's gone through, she's turned into a remarkable young woman. You and Ursa obviously did something right for the first twelve years of her life so she had a solid foundation of strength and integrity to build on and get her through to this point. Yes. She found a new family, but they're a good family. She could be working for Black Sun right now or sitting in a prison somewhere if it weren't for them. I would just be thankful to have her back and count yourself fortunate for every day you get to spend with her from now on." His mouth quirked up and his voice took on a teasing tone. "And just think, with the way she and Bridger look at each other, you'll get grandbabies to play with sooner than later, I'll bet."

Alrich beamed like a ray of sunshine at the idea.


Jett watched the Mand'alor's Kom'rk fly away with his men in it, on their way to Sundari. There, they would buy new bodysuits and paint and get the fighter fixed properly. It had gone into battle with just a patch job by Sabine. Now, after the space battle, the fighter was as close to limping through the sky as a flying object can get. The men could paint their armor while they waited for the mechanics to put new parts in the ship.

When he'd asked Kryze for a means of transport to the city, since their jetpacks were basically out of fuel, she had volunteered her personal ship, providing they took the time to find a good mechanic. Jett had thought it a fair trade and agreed quickly.

As far as his own armor was concerned, he was still hoping he could convince the lovely Countess Wren to paint it for him if he supplied the paint. As the new Count of Clan Saxon, he would need a perfectly painted set of armor with many embellishments. It would only be fitting that Sabine painted his armor for him if she was going to be his wife. And, from what little he'd seen so far, she was a brilliant artist on top of everything else she excelled at. Did the woman have no flaws? No weaknesses?

Not as far as he could tell.

She really was perfect for him.

Jett shrugged his shoulders slightly to settle the borrowed grey tunic into place better as he turned around to face the camp again and go in search of Sabine. He'd also asked Kryze if she happened to know where he could locate a quick change of clothes. After a flash of sorrow had crossed her face, she'd said the last cabin in her ship had clothes he could have. They had belonged to her nephew, but he'd died yesterday by the Duchess and he wouldn't be needing them anymore. Jett had winced in sympathy and gave her his condolences on the loss of the semi-legendary Korkie Kryze. As far as keeping the clothes, that wasn't going to happen. He'd make sure he returned the tunic to the cabin as soon as a new bodysuit arrived for him to wear.

One that wasn't white. Yay. What a stupid color for soldiers to wear. (Unless you were on a snow planet.)

As he walked back into camp, Jett noticed that the atmosphere had changed from celebratory to... gossiping? That was the best description he could come up with. People were literally whispering behind their hands to other people.

What had happened in the last ten minutes to cause this?

Aiming for the Command Tent, he sidled up to a warrior near it dressed in Wren colors and was clearly using his helmet to blatantly eavesdrop on whatever was going on inside the tent.

"What's happening now?" Jett asked in a conspiratorial whisper, pretending he already knew the gist of whatever was going on.

Shubin Wren glanced at the unfamiliar guy who'd shown up beside him before focusing on the tent again. "Kryze just admitted that Sabine's plan is ambitious but not insane. It looks like she's going to support Sabine's plan to take Lothal from the Empire." Personally, he thought the idea had merit. Who wouldn't want to move to a warmer planet?

Jett blinked but kept his expression neutral out of sheer training. "Wow. I didn't think she'd go for it," he commented calmly. Meanwhile, his brain was going a million lightyears an hour. Why would Sabine want to fight for a rinky-dink planet like Lothal? Aside from the mining operations, the planet had no redeeming qualities as far as he knew. Wait. Lothal. Wasn't that the planet Grand Admiral Thrawn was currently blockading personally? There had to be something of great interest there for such a high-ranking Imperial to pay much attention to it. Maybe Sabine had a really good reason to go after the planet.

Perhaps he should support her endeavors once he had command of the Saxon warriors. That certainly couldn't hurt his quest to win her over for himself.

"Neither did I," Shubin said distractedly, his attention divided between listening and talking. "But Sabine came up with a feasible plan of attack that sounds like it might actually..." His voice trailed off as he tried to process what the Jedi had just suggested. Did he actually say use PURRGIL to get rid of a fleet of Star Destroyers? No way in a thousand Shabla hells was anyone going to believe this.

Shubin glanced around at the other warriors also eavesdropping and saw them all stiffen as well. Yep. They didn't believe it either. The Jedi was nuts.

"What is it?" Jett said, dying of curiosity. He really wished he hadn't left his helmet on Kryze's ship right now.

"The Countess' Jedi just suggested using Purrgil to chase Thrawn's fleet from Lothal space. And... he just said they were intelligent beings that owed him a favor and were not actually animals at all."

"What?!" Jett exclaimed.

Shubin nodded slowly, eyes super wide behind his visor. "I know, right?"

"Holy Osik!"

"My thoughts exactly." Shubin commiserated.

"Now what are they saying?" Jett said eagerly.

Shubin mentally played back what he'd heard while they'd been talking. "Ummm. Nothing too important. It seems the Jedi and the Countess' relationship is fairly new and he's giving her a hug or something. The Mand'alor and someone called Captain Hera Syndulla are now on a first-name basis. Now they're saying good night. Syndulla's proud of her 'Little Specters', which I'm guessing are the Countess and the younger Jedi, and she approves of their relationship." Shubin smirked a little at his younger cousin-once-removed being called a 'Little Specter' because it suited her. He remembered her as a child as being VERY good at causing mischief and being almost impossible to catch in the act.

Jett hurmmpphed noncommittally, unenthused about the idea of Sabine being affectionate with the Jedi. "Anything else?"

Shubin shook his head. "Not really. They've split into two separate conversation groups and it's hard to focus on them both. It all sounds like generic stuff anyway," he said, not wanting to get into family dynamics with a stranger. The conversation his cousin's husband was having with Fenn was private enough that the whole galaxy didn't need to know it. And it sounded like Sabine and the two Jedi were just talking about time schedules. It looked like they'd be heading for Krownest within the hour. And from there... He wasn't sure. Was everyone splitting up? He'd missed some words while trying to focus on too much at once.

Now focused entirely on the stranger, Shubin tilted his head slightly. "Hey. Who are you anyway?"

Jett wondered if he should give a fake name since he hadn't exactly been well received so far, but decided to just stick with the truth since this guy from the Wren Clan would inevitably be encountered again once he made Sabine his. "I'm Jett Hark of Clan Saxon, Captain of what's left of my Super Commandoes."

Shubin eyeballed the man suspiciously for a moment. "Ahh, one of the traitors who's come back to the correct side of the fence, and very wisely lost most of that Imperial white. Tristan spoke well enough of you. Said you weren't as fanatically stupid as Gar and Tiber Saxon." He pulled his helmet off and tucked it under his arm, revealing a man in his thirties with dark brown hair in a short style and warm brown eyes that clearly marked him as a Wren family member. He held out his hand. "Shubin Wren. Nice to meet you."

Jett smiled and grasped the man's wrist and they gripped each other tight for a moment then let go. Intros were now done, Jett nodded towards the tent again. "Sooooo, what do you think of your Countess choosing a Jedi for her future husband?"

Shubin glanced at Jett, not liking the barely disguised bitterness in his tone, but dismissed it as a generic dislike of Jedi, which almost every Mando could claim. He shrugged slightly. "To be honest, I don't think it's the smartest choice she's ever made. But to be fair, Ezra Bridger has been instrumental in returning Sabine and Alrich to the Wren clan, as well as saving her life on multiple occasions, according to her. From what little time I've spent with him, he seems like a nice enough sort. A little immature still, and maybe not the smartest bulb in the box, but nothing like the slavering, Mando-eating Jedi we've been taught to hate. His Master is quite likable as well, and Fenn Rau speaks very highly of them. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Sabine's Jedi is all right and worthy of respect until he proves otherwise. I will support her choice."

While Shubin was speaking, Jett watched the tent. A small herd of people finally emerged, Sabine and her young Jedi at the back of the pack, holding hands and whispering with their heads close to each other, walking much slower than the others. The sight rubbed him every kind of the wrong way. Because, no matter what Shubin Wren or any of the others said, a proper Mando should NEVER lower themselves to marrying a Jedi scum. Jett felt like it was his DUTY to stop this before it went any further. "Well, I will not," he nearly spat. "She deserves so much better than a Shabla Jedi."

Shubin's eyes widened in alarm as Jett stormed towards the couple, his fists clenched, and a fierce look on his face. "This can't be good," he mumbled to himself and ran after him, plunking his helmet back on and sending a heads up to the other two Wren warriors that were around here somewhere, telling them to get their shebs over to the Command Tent on the double.


Ezra grabbed Sabine's hand and held her back as everyone else left the tent so they would be at the end of the group. He smiled sweetly when she looked at him questioningly. He laced their fingers together, still thrilling that he now had the right to do so, and picked up a meandering stroll, leaning his head close to hers. "I just wanted to thank you profusely for what you just did. Even if none of our plans work, I'll always be grateful to you for trying. You have to know this means everything to me."

Sabine shook her head slightly, a light flush of pleasure at his words brightening her cheeks becomingly. "Of course I know how much Lothal means to you. We've been fighting for it for years. And you need to believe our plans will work, because I vowed we'd free it, and you know I never break a vow."

Ezra grinned, eyes twinkling at her mischievously. "Like the time you refused to sleep for three days cause you vowed you wouldn't rest until both the Ghost and the Phantom 2 had matching new paint jobs? Or what about the time you vowed you'd get Zeb and I to do all your chores for you for a week and proceeded to trick or bet us into doing every single one without us being the wiser until Kanan told us at the end, laughing like mad while he did so?"

Sabine grinned back. "Just like that."

"And that's one of the reasons I adore you," Ezra said softly. "No one is more determined than you, Cyar'ika."

Being so focused on Sabine, Ezra only felt the barest hint of a warning from the Force before he was shoved roughly away from her as a furious Captain Hark came out of apparently nowhere.

"You're not good enough for her! " Jett exclaimed as Ezra stumbled back a couple of steps before catching his balance and looking at him in surprise. "You're just a boy and a Jedi scumbag! And do you even know what Cyar'ika means?! I bet not."


Kanan was only absently paying attention to the Force around him as he focused more on remembering images of Hera and imagining what she looked like right now as she lay back down to go to sleep. He might not be able to see her beautiful features in real life anymore, but at least he had his memories to call upon. His dreams of her were also in full, glorious color and those he carefully tucked away into his precious store of memories.

He was jarred out of his imaginings as a malevolent being in the Force bore down on Ezra and Sabine behind him. "Uh oh," Kanan mumbled, catching the attention of Fenn, Alrich, Chopper, and Bo-Katan. He turned around in time to see the angry aura of a man push Ezra's aura away from Sabine's. Kanan immediately strode back to the confrontational group in time to catch Captain Hark's words.

"What's your problem, Captain Hark?" Kanan said calmly, putting a hand on his arm to prevent the Captain from attacking further.

"Yes, what is your problem?" Sabine demanded. "The only one who gets to decide who's good enough for me is ME!"

"I'd think through your next few words very carefully if I were you," Bo-Katan said as she caught up to the action, crossing her arms over her chest and giving the man in question a withering stare.

Jett crossed his arms over his chest as well, since practically everyone else was, and reined in his temper out of sheer determination. He didn't want to anger the new Mand'alor. "I do not believe that Countess Wren has picked a mate worthy of her. And as such, I call on the right to challenge the Jedi for the honor of courting her."

The quickly assembling crowd that was drawn to confrontation like flies to dead meat ooohed and gasped, many nodding their heads in agreement.

"Can he do that?" Ezra asked Sabine in a stage whisper, leaning towards her.

Sabine winced in apology. "Unfortunately, yes. I probably should have warned you this might happen, but I thought we'd have more time before anyone got around to doing so. I intended to have us married before it came to this."

Ezra's eyes widened almost comically. "You did?! Karabast! Oh, wow." He smiled widely as that sunk in, reaching up and cupping her cheek lovingly. "Ni Kar'tayl gar Darasuum, Sabine Wren." His smile widened when she gasped in surprise at what he hoped was a half-decent pronunciation of the Mandalorian version of a vow of undying love. "Yes, I learned that for you." Ezra shot a smirk in Hark's direction as the man scowled in disgust. "And yes, to answer your question from before, I do know what Cyar'ika means too. It means Sabine is my beloved soulmate and the term of affection is not used lightly. I'm just as capable of looking up Mando'a on the Holo-net as the next guy."

Kanan, Fenn, and Alrich snickered as Hark's scowl turned positively ugly and he more or less growled out, "Fine. So you're not completely stupid. But that doesn't mean you're worthy to be anywhere near her. I challenge you to a duel, Bridger, and if you lose, you have to give up all romantic inclinations towards her."

"I guess I better not lose, then," Ezra said, determination settling in. "How are we doing this? Swords? Blasters at twenty paces? A race around the planet on a speeder bike? A dogfight in space with Gauntlets? What?"

Sabine couldn't help but snort in suppressed laughter at some of the options Ezra came up with despite the gravity of the situation. She noticed quite a few others shaking with amusement as well. Only Ezra could turn such a serious situation into something fun. Force, why did it take her so long to realize she loved him?

Jett was not amused. "None of the above, di'kut. We fight hand to hand until someone gives up. No weapons. No Force tricks. Anything else goes." Then he whipped his tunic and undershirt off over his head and tossed them aside, leaving him in just his white bodysuit leggings.

Ezra blinked at the very bare muscular chest and arms that had a fair number of scars traversing the pale skin. "All righty then. I guess we're doing this shirtless." He unbuckled his utility belt and handed the whole thing, including his Lightsaber and blaster, to Sabine. Then he pulled his big folding knife out of his boot and handed that to her as well. He smirked as Hark scowled once again. "Present from Sabine for my sixteenth birthday. I don't go anywhere without it," he explained cheekily.

Jett sneered. "And when was that? Yesterday?"

Ezra laughed as he unzipped his orange and beige jacket, adding it to the pile accumulating on Sabine's free arm. (As usual, her helmet was tucked under her other arm.) "Try two years and three days ago, di'kut. Yes, I know that one too. Sabine used to call me that all the time." He winked at her, letting her know he didn't mind. Then he pulled his black t-shirt off over his head, leaving him just as half-naked as the other guy, and placed it on top of his other things.

Sabine couldn't help but compare Ezra's physique against Hark's. The Mando's was impressive, yes, but was to be expected, considering his occupation. Ezra's was... getting there. He was still leaner than he should be, but what he did have was ripped tight muscles that looked more than capable, including a very nice six-pack. He just needed a few more years to finish growing so he could fill it out properly. And his muscles were covered in lovely copper skin that shone in the sunlight, looking far more attractive than Hark's pasty skin. Add the odd mouth-watering scar here and there and Ezra won the contest in her mind easily. (Now if only that was all it took for him to win the duel.)

Jett's scowl felt permanently attached to his face as he noticed that Sabine only glanced at him before returning all her attention to that... wimp. "Wow. If that's the case, then I might actually feel a little sorry for you. You certainly don't look eighteen. Tristan Wren was a year younger than you and was almost twice as big. Whatever swamp you come from, they must not grow them very tall."

Ezra smiled, letting the insults roll off him from a lifetime of experience of being belittled. Having some good old Jedi calm helped a lot too. "I'm just a late bloomer. If you must know, I'm still growing, and my dad was taller than you, so I'm not worried." He walked right up to the other man, who was about ten centimeters taller, and crossed his arms over his bare chest. "Sooooo, are we going to have a duel of insults, then? Cause I'm up for that. Or do you want to do something a little more productive? I have things to do and places to go. Annnnddd, MY girl apparently wants to marry me and not a Neanderthal, sooooo..."

Jett lost his temper. The BRAT deserved the pummelling he was about to deliver. Jett growled and rushed at the Jedi, wanting to knock him down to the ground and beat that smirk right off his face.

Ezra calmly sidestepped the battering ram impersonating a human and turned and watched as he scrambled to keep his feet when he didn't hit a target. The crowd of onlookers immediately backed up into a rough circle, giving them an arena of sorts, and started hooting and cheering. "I'm surprised, Captain Hark. I would have thought you had better training than that. Or maybe it's because you've been impersonating an Imperial for too long. They're notoriously bad at fighting and shooting. That kind of thing must be catching." Ezra hadn't even uncrossed his arms yet.

Sabine tried to keep her grin down to just a small smile, but she failed miserably. Ezra was going to wipe the floor with this mir'osik. She happened to know for a fact that Ezra was VERY well trained in hand-to-hand combat. Aside from learning dirty tricks on the streets as a kid, he'd spent a month undercover in the Imperial Academy, she'd taught him everything she knew, Rex had taught him everything HE knew (and that was A LOT), Kanan had thrown in a few more moves that he'd been taught at the Temple specifically designed for Force users, he'd gone up against Zeb and not died, and he'd even sparred with Fenn a few times. Ezra was one of the most well-rounded combatants she'd ever seen. He just didn't use the skills very often since he preferred showing off with his lightsaber and mind tricks whenever he could.

Hark was going down.

Jett looked at all the Mandos watching him expectantly and forced himself to calm down. The boy was frustratingly correct. He HAD made a very stupid opening move. He wouldn't make the same mistake again. Jett faced the Jedi and walked back up to him in a purposeful manner and once again stopped when they were face to face. He nodded slightly in the barest possible show of respect and then assumed a proper opening fighting stance, hands up with fingers loosely curled and feet spread and balanced, turning half sideways to his opponent.

Ezra raised a brow and copied the stance. "This is more what I was expecting. Your Mando ancestors can stop rolling in their graves now."

Jett kept hold of his temper by a very thin thread. "If you shut up, I'll promise not to hurt you TOO much. You might even be able to walk when we're done."

Ezra's smirk returned. "We'll see who's walking and who's not, won't we?" And with that, Ezra threw the first punch, almost faster than the eye could follow, clocking Jett in the jaw, whipping his head to the side.

Jett went with the momentum, spinning all the way around on his foot and delivering a kick that Ezra blocked.

The crowd cheered and the fight was ON.


Twenty minutes later, Sabine was close to gnawing through her lower lip, she'd chewed on it so much. Ezra and Hark were still going at it, their sweaty bodies covered in the red dirt of Mandalore, and their jaws set in a determined way that said neither was anywhere near finished. Ezra was sporting a black eye and he was limping more than a little from where Hark had kicked him in the back of his left knee. Hark's lip was bleeding and he was definitely favoring his right arm. He was rarely using it, now relying almost entirely on kicks and left-handed punches.

"Hark's in pain," Kanan said quietly from his spot beside Sabine, having settled beside her when the circle was formed. "I can feel it."

"Yeah, but Ezra's limping," Sabine whispered back.

Kanan leaned over and whispered so no one else could hear, "He's faking. There's no real pain in his signature."

Sabine's eyes widened fractionally before she schooled her expression. "Street rat," she whispered with amusement.

Kanan nodded, his mouth twitching at the corner as he held back a grin.

"Okay, Ez'ika, Wrap this up!" Sabine said to herself, not wanting to distract Ezra as Hark performed some impressive kicking spins that Ezra had to work to dodge in his current 'incapacitated' state.

Almost like he'd heard her anyway, Ezra suddenly turned the tide on Hark by crouching down on his 'bad' knee and sweeping Hark's feet out from under him. He pounced on the man while he was down, pinning his left arm to the ground under his foot and grabbing the right arm and yanking it back and up, causing Hark to yelp in pain. Ezra dug his knee into the small of Hark's back and yanked the arm higher, twisting the shoulder joint. "Do you yield?"

Hark shook his head quickly, trying to buck Ezra off. Ezra twisted the arm just a little more. "Yield or I pop this out of joint and maybe break your wrist too, just because." He bent said wrist in a way it was never designed to go as a demonstration, making Hark whine.

Jett panted into the dirt for a minute, deciding if the girl was really worth wrecking his arm yet again. He knew from experience that he could fight without it, but Jett thought back over everything he knew about the Jedi and Sabine and came to the conclusion he just wasn't going to win this one. The Jedi was too good at fighting and the girl was too infatuated with him to ever look at him the way she looked at Bridger. Even if he did manage to remove Bridger from the picture at some point in the future, he had a feeling she'd never look at Jett the way she looked at Bridger. And Jett didn't want some other guy's figurative sloppy seconds. He'd find another warrior girl to make his Countess.

And there was something else to consider: Yesterday, the med droid had told him if he dislocated his shoulder again, he'd need surgery to repair it properly. If he lost the use of his arm while his shoulder and wrist healed, he'd have a very tough time winning the title of Count of Clan Saxon. That was enough to decide it for Jett. "I yield," he said begrudgingly. "Sabine is yours."

Ezra immediately let him go and rose to his feet, then held out a hand for Jett to take and helped the other man up. Ezra grinned at the taller man. "That was a good fight. I enjoyed myself. Thanks." He held out a hand. "No hard feelings?"

Jett stared at the proffered hand in surprise before accepting it, grasping the wrist in the warrior's way and feeling an incredibly strong hand for the boy's size grip him in return. "No hard feelings. You have earned my respect, Jedi Bridger. I thought you'd be useless without your Lightsaber. I was wrong. Maybe I SHOULD have picked swords.

Ezra laughed. "I've had some incredibly good teachers. Sabine being one of them."

Jett groaned. "I should have known." He shook his head at himself. "I really am the di'kut here."

Ezra laughed again. "You said it." He swiped at some of the dirt sticking to his skin half-heartedly. "Why did we do this shirtless again?"

Jett shook his head, choking on his own laugh. The kid was actually starting to grow on him. No wonder everyone else seemed to like him. "I was trying to impress the girl," he admitted.

Ezra snorted. "Sabine has never been impressed by muscles. Appreciative, yes. Impressed, no." Ezra paused in his dirt swiping. "Speaking of..." He looked out at the crowd, turning around in a circle. "Is there anyone else who wants to challenge me before I go wash all of this off?" he called loud enough for everyone to hear. "I'm good for another round or two if someone else really wants to try and win the most beautiful girl in the galaxy. I honestly wouldn't blame you for trying."

The crowd laughed and most shook their heads before starting to disperse. As a whole, the Mando warriors' opinion of the Jedi had risen considerably after watching him fight like one of them and win against a worthy opponent. They would spread the word and the new Countess Wren would most likely never get any flack for her choice of husband. He felt like one of them now.

Kanan smiled as he sensed the general mood of those around him. Ezra had won more than a fight and Sabine's heart this day. He may just have won over an entire nation.

Sabine couldn't contain herself anymore. Ezra looked so Kriffing hot right now, all sweaty and dirty and half NAKED. And he'd just called her beautiful and challenged an entire camp full of warriors for her. She NEEDED to touch him. Kiss him! Hold him! NOW!

A bundle of clothes, weapons, and a helmet was suddenly thrust into Kanan's arms and he chuckled to himself as Sabine ran over to Ezra and jumped on him, wrapping her limbs around him as he caught her, and then kissing him enthusiastically despite their audience. Kanan's brows rose as their signatures almost literally merged into just one being, their colors blending together in perfect harmony. He'd have to ask Ezra if he and Hera did the same, cause it sure felt like it.

"I hope you've been recording all this for Hera to see," Kanan said quietly to Chopper.

"Of course," Chopper beeped brightly from the vicinity of Kanan's knees. "I record practically everything you ridiculous organics do."

Kanan laugh groaned. "Much to my chagrin."

Sabine pulled back from Ezra's mouth when the need for air was making her feel lightheaded. Or maybe that was just how much love she was feeling right now. She smiled at him beatifically. "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, Ezra Bridger. You just keep surprising me and I gotta say, I think I like it."

Ezra returned her smile, brushing a strand of cream-colored hair off her forehead as his other arm tightened slightly around her back. "I have one more thing to surprise you with, Sabine." He paused for breath and a little courage and then said (hoping his pronunciation wasn't awful), "Mhi solus tome, Mhi solus dar'tome, Mhi me'dinui an, Mhi ba'juri verde."

Sabine's eyes widened in surprise as he started speaking and then settled into heavy-lidded desire by the time he was done. She repeated his vows as soon as he was done. "Mhi solus tome, Mhi solus dar'tome, Mhi me'dinui an, Mhi ba'juri verde."

The crowd had been leaving, but word spread quickly that the Jedi was spouting proper wedding vows. They rushed back and cheered loudly when Sabine sealed the vows with another minute-long kiss. Someone started up a chant of, " Feast! Feast! Feast!" and soon the whole camp was ringing with the combined voices of many different clans.

Fenn nudged Alrich and nodded with his chin at the couple at the center of the chanting circle. "See. I told you you'd get grandbabies soon," he teased.

Alrich turned his suspiciously shiny eyes to his new friend and smiled shakily. "My daughter has done well. I wish Ursa and Tristan were here to see this."

Fenn clasped the man's shoulder comfortingly, expression falling into seriousness. "Perhaps they are. Who knows what they get to see from the bounds of the Afterlife?"

Alrich's smile brightened considerably. "I like that thought. Thank you."

Jett shook his head to himself as he found his undershirt and borrowed tunic trampled into the dirt. He shook them out as he watched Sabine and Bridger out of his peripheral vision, not quite able to gaze upon them full on because it made him feel like an absolute idiot. Seeing them now, locked together like that, like they were never going to stop kissing the other short of a Star Destroyer crashing beside them, he could see that his quest to win Sabine had been futile from the start. They truly loved each other, and a bond like that just wasn't something one should mess with.

On the other hand, Jett had finally figured out what Sabine's weakness was; her Jedi. If anyone were ever to exploit that fact, they would have some serious leverage against her. He assumed it was safe to think the same could be said for the Jedi. To love that much, you opened yourself up to a great deal of possible pain. But it just might be worth it, he decided, seeing the newly married couple pause for breath and just stare at each other like they'd found their own personal slice of heaven.

Now all Jett needed to do was find his own piece of heaven. He hoped she was as badass as the new Countess Wren.

Bo-Katan raised the Darksaber in the air and the hundreds of warriors gradually hushed, even the newly married couple parting and looking at her respectively, only their joined hands keeping them together now. "Yesterday was a day of tragedy. Today is a day of triumph. Tomorrow will be a day of victory and all of the tomorrows after that as we stand together as a united Mandalore once again." Bo-Katan's voice rang loud and true across the camp and people cheered again until she raised the Darksaber again for silence. "Now, as you so rightfully suggested, we shall feast and celebrate so we can fight again tomorrow, knowing in our hearts that Mandalore will always reign triumphant against its foes!"

The cheers of the warriors were deafening as Sabine and Ezra snuck away towards the Gauntlet while everyone was distracted. Only one noticed their escape, his eyes unseeing behind his mask as he smiled in contentment at the very rightness of how everything felt right now, the Force swirling happily through him. Kanan followed the young couple at a respectful distance, placing the pile of clothes and weapons at the top of the Gauntlet's ramp before walking back down and closing the ramp with a wave of his hand. They deserved their privacy for a few stolen hours.

Kanan wandered out of the camp, seeking a quiet place to meditate. The others could celebrate in their way. Kanan would celebrate in his; with the Force since Hera wasn't available.


Mandalorian translations:

Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum - I know you in my heart forever. (Or literally; I hold in my heart you forever.)

Mhi solus tome, Mhi solus dar'tome, Mhi me'dinui an, Mhi ba'juri verde. - We are one when together, we are one when parted, we will share all, we will raise warriors.

659 system errors, misspellings, punctuation errors, and corrections later 8 is ready for reposting...Lol