Howdy folks, Specter7 here! "The New Mand'alor" just crossed the hundred follower marker! Whoop whoop! *throws confetti to readers*
Now...Is this chapter angsty? Yes. Is it full of pain, tears, and feels? Yes. Did I post something fluffy last chapter to catch you unawares for this chapter? Maybe. Let the angst ensue.
May the manda be with you.
The New Mand'alor: Chapter 8: A Familiar Face
"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."
-Confucius
Kor watched through his visor as Sabine Wren was carried off the field. Her team had just won the Meshgeroya match and everyone was overjoyed. Someone had Wren on their shoulders and the winning team was parading around, heading back to the Death Watch camp. Wren was smiling. Kor could see it from here. The girl looked so… happy. As if all her worries were simply washed away.
Kor's gloved hand curled into a fist, just thinking about it. How could she be so relaxed? So at ease, whenever Wren was the one who had caused so many of her own people's deaths!
And now, she was Mand'alor. Kor couldn't touch her. If he launched an assassination attempt on Wren—like he so desperately wanted to—Kor would be guilty of treason against the throne. Arc would host his immediate execution and Kor knew that for a fact.
He gritted his teeth under his helmet. All those years and years of planning to avenge his wife, all those years of smoldering anger and pure, unbridled hate… and for what? Now, Kor couldn't touch Wren.
Blast it, he should've taken the shot when when she first showed up in the camp! He had known the markings on her helmet meant she was a Wren—but he hadn't killed her! And oh, how he was regretting that now.
And the best part, Kor thought with bitter humor, is that she doesn't even know what she did to me!
Kor watched Wren. She was so young, to have caused the deaths of so many. With her brightly dyed hair and her armor painted all the colors of the rainbow and more, it was difficult to think that the girl was actually dangerous. But Kor had watched the duel between Wren and Arc. There was more to her that met the eye.
But Kor shook his head. Bile rose in his throat at the thought that he would never be able to accomplish what he'd brooded about for so long.
No, Kor thought defiantly. Somehow, someway, Wren will pay for what she did. She will account for her crimes.
And I'll stop at nothing to see that happen.
Two weeks later...
Sabine Wren had her hands folded, staring straight into Arc's narrowed eyes. But Arc was looking down at the wooden board in front of them, biting her lip in concentration. The young adult finally leaned back in her seat and took one of the short-handled knives out of the board and stabbed it back in a different square.
Sabine arched an eyebrow. Cube face six? Interesting move… Sabine hadn't seen that one coming.
Arc, Luc, Jaxon, and herself were playing cubikahd, a strategy game among Mandalorians. Jaxon had been the first to get out. Apparently, his athletic skills didn't quite match his strategic ones.
Arc brushed a thumb against her nose. "You're go, Luc," she said.
The blonde-haired man to Sabine's left hesitantly jerked out one of his daggers from the board, his light blue eyes scanning all the options.
Sabine silently pushed him onward. C'mon Luc, she thought pleadingly. Take the bait… She watched as his hand hovered over the spot she wanted him to move. Sabine had pinned him up against Arc's knives, and had him in the perfect trap…
Luc stabbed his dagger into the board, and lightning quick, Sabine yanked and stabbed her own right next to Luc.
Luc jerked his hand back with a yelp, cradling the finger she had nicked. "Hey!" he exclaimed. "My hand wasn't out of the way!"
Sabine smiled sweetly. "Oops?" She said, mocking innocence. Sabine turned back to the board, barely stifling a smile. "Anyway," she said slyly, "You're out."
Sabine enjoyed the look on Luc's face as his blue eyes bugged from out their sockets. "What? How—" Luc cut himself off as he suddenly realized that her knife was right next to his, and she had now captured it.
"I've got your piece," Sabine explained while gathering the knife off the board and exchanging it for a blue-handled one. "And I just made your knives my knives and… you lose. Get outta the game."
Luc frowned hard and finally pushed his chair from out from under him, the pegs screeching against the metal floor. "Forget this," he muttered and walked to the back of the room to Jaxon, who was leaned up against the wall. "They've gotta be cheating," he told the older Mando.
"Gotta be," Jaxon reiterated.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Sabine called from where she was staring intently at the board, "but not everyone has to bribe a ref to win."She could see Jaxon get red from her peripheral vision. He mumbled something and grabbed his helmet from off a counter.
"Let's go," he grumbled to Luc, who followed Jaxon out the dark green tent.
Sabine cracked her neck and stared at the board again. Now it was just Sabine, Arc, and Kor in the room. Of course, Kor refused to play cubikahd with them. What crawled up his blaster and died, Sabine didn't know. Ever since she'd met the guy, he'd been cold and distant with her. Sabine had seen him talk with Arc from a distance and hear him laugh with the other Mandos. She'd watched as he had played with a group of children, scooping them up in his strong arms.
So if he was a good person to everyone else, what was wrong with her?
Arc interrupted her thoughts by stabbing an orange-handled knife to cube face ten. Sabine glanced up to see her cousin looking pretty smug. "You're go," Arc said with a half-smile.
Sabine's hand hovered over the board and she gently eased a knife out of the wood, spinning it in one hand. Sabine had a very elaborate plan in her head of what she could do and how Arc would react. Deciding on a move, Sabine grinned satisfactorily and stabbed her knife square in the middle of the board.
Arc's eyebrows went straight up. "Blade to cube face three," she observed. "Getting a little cocky there, vod?"
Arc stabbed one of her knives into cube face five, getting a bit too close for comfort. But Sabine simply smiled, moving her piece. "Strategy is an art," she shot back smugly as Arc jabbed to the left of the board. "Every move is calculated and accounted for."
Sabine took one of her blades and stabbed it into cube face four.
"Yeah, right," Arc said disbelievingly, moving one of her own pieces to cube face six, attempting to capture her.
Sabine hid a smile, moving her blade back, as if running away. "And art," the young Mand'alor continued as Arc chased her with one of her pieces, "Is always full of surprises."
On the last word, Sabine stabbed her blade to cube face one, capturing Arc's piece, therefor winning the game.
Her cousin's open-mouthed expression was priceless. She started to frown after a moment, and promptly stood up. "You know what?" Arc fumed. "Luc and Jaxon were right. This game is totally rigged."
Arc spun on the heel of her boot, swatting her short black cape so it billowed behind her as she left. "Kor!" she shouted behind her. "Do me a favor and don't slaughter my little cousin until after I've defeated her in that cursed Mandalorian strategy game!"
Sabine glanced over at Arc's second-in-command and swallowed. What was that all about?
Kor simply turned his helmet to face Sabine, his T-shaped visor staring at her emotionlessly. Even after Sabine's whole two weeks of staying with the Death Watch, she had never seen him remove his helmet.
Sabine twiddled her thumbs, suddenly shy as the silence spanned between the two awkwardly. Finally, Sabine sighed.
"Kor," she said, looking up into his viewplate. "What did I do to you? Please, tell me. I've no clue."
Kor stayed perfectly still for a long moment before tilting his helmet away and uncrossing his arms. "You're clueless," he rumbled in a thick Core-world accent. "That seems to be your natural state."
Sabine clenched her jaw at the insult and she stood. "Tell me what I did," she said, sounding more stern than she meant to. "I can make it right with you."
Kor turned his back to her and Sabine noticed how his hands balled into fists. "No, Wren," he whispered. "You can't."
And he walked out.
Sabine tossed her duffle bag into the Phantom II, still mulling over Kor's earlier words. Why was the guy so sour towards her? Every time she spoke to him, why did he spit something bitter back? What had she done to Kor to earn his hate? She'd never even met the guy before two weeks ago!
Sabine sighed and stretched, wincing as her back popped
"Sore?" Ezra teased, tossing his backpack in as well.
"Arc nailed me in the back yesterday while we were sparring," Sabine explained briefly, cringing as she twisted.
"That reminds me," Ezra added, "you should've seen me and Luc train last night. He went for a headshot and I ducked just like this-" Ezra displayed the move, engaging in a fight with the air. "And then I suckerpunched him right in the gut." Ezra did so and made the impact sound with his mouth. "Lights out for lil' Luc."
Sabine sat on the Phantom II's open hatch, which had become their daily meeting place. "Don't tell me you're still holding a grudge against him," Sabine teased.
Ezra plopped himself down next to her. "Hey, serves him right for being a… a… how do you say jerk in Mando'a? Di'kut?"
"That's idiot," Sabine translated. "Jerk would be shabuir."
"Yeah. That. Serves him right."
The two lapsed into a comfortable silence and watched the Death Watch camp bustle with energy, people going to and fro.
"So," Ezra said after awhile, "we leavin' today?"
Sabine didn't turn to him but began to finger with her crimson colored cloak. "Yes."
Ezra leaned back, folding his hands underneath his head. "I never thought I'd say this," he began with a sigh, "but I'm actually gonna miss this place."
Sabine watched a group of children run along, kicking a ball between them. Something panicky began to bubble up in her chest and she knit her brows. "W-Well," she stuttered, "I mean… we'll come back. We'll visit. We can go to the camp from time to time—"
"Sabine," Ezra interrupted, laying a hand gently on her knee, stilling her words. She looked ahead as the sun rose high in the Mandalore sky. Sabine realized she had been rambling. But who could blame her? She… she was nervous. Anxious. She knew she had to go back to the Ghost crew, but… Kriff, she had gotten awfully used to being here in the Death Watch camp, with her fellow Mandalorians. The thought of leaving them forever was… was close to unthinkable. Unbearable.
So, I'll visit, Sabine thought uncertainly, trying to convince herself. I can come back every once and awhile, say hi, catch up with Arc and Jaxon and the others. Maybe beat Luc again at Meshgeroya. Maybe play with some of the kids like I've been doing. Maybe paint some of their armor, maybe tag the Imperial base on Mandalore, maybe hold a camp-wide competition of cubikahd…
The list went on and on in her head. Why did she have to leave? Why now? True, she was only supposed to stay a week before she moved on to the next Mandalorian planet, yet she had stayed two. It was because she couldn't bear to leave. These people, they had become her friends. Almost… almost like family. How could she leave them whenever they needed a Mand'alor to guide them?
"...It's time," a foreign voice said, breaking into Sabine's thoughts.
She looked up to see Arc standing over the two teens, hands on her hips, her blonde Padawan braid waving in the wind.
"We're leaving?" Sabine asked, dread creeping into her voice.
Arc arched an eyebrow. "Of course," she said in her slight Mandalorian accent. "You said today was the day. Remember?"
Sabine rolled to her hands and knees, stood, and dusted herself off. "How could I forget?" she muttered.
Arc proceeded to give the two teens the rundown of the situation, saying that the Death Watch had some supplies to act as "peace offerings" for the Rebellion, which needed to be loaded up.
Of course, selfless Ezra volunteered himself and Sabine to help load the stuff onto a Mandalorian starship named the Mesh'la A'den.
"The Beautiful Rage," Sabine translated. "Let me guess, your ship?"
Arc winked. "You know me, little cousin. We'll aim to leave by sun-high."
So it was settled. Ezra and Sabine began to load crates into the Mesh'la A'den, Ezra talking all the while. Sabine absently listened, caught up in her own thoughts.
They went back and forth, engaging the anti-gravs on the weathered crates until Sabine felt sweat bead at the nape of her neck. Finally, Ezra said the magic words.
"Last one," he huffed, wiping his forehead with his sleeve as he engaged the anti-grav on a purple, beat up box.
"Good," Sabine said with a sigh as grabbed a weathered, mellow green one. "Arc has us working like slaves. Who keeps thirty-five crates of "peace offering?""
"Forty-eight," Ezra corrected with a lopsided grin. "I counted."
Sabine suddenly froze as certain voices caught her ear. "Uh… go on ahead, Ezra," she told the Padawan distractedly. "I'll catch up."
Sabine waited for her best friend to continue to get out of earshot, and then she pushed the crate aside and jogged over to a nearby tent. Peeking an amber eye between the a gap in the tent's canvas, Sabine saw people to embody the voices she had heard just a few moments ago.
"...have a problem, Kor?" Arc growled to her second-in-command.
"With your cousin?" the man shot back. "Yes."
"Well, you need to settle it and you need to settle it fast. You're coming with me to the Rebellion. I need you and Luc for negotiations."
Sabine heard Kor moan and watched him pace around the inside of the tent. "You need someone to be in charge of the Death Watch while you're with the rebels. I could-"
"I already made Jaxon temporary leader while we're gone," Arc interrupted with a wave of her hand. "I shouldn't have to argue with you about this. Clear?"
"Arc," Kor pleaded, his voice sounding uncharacteristically desperate. "Trust me, you don't want me in the same ship with that girl."
And then Sabine saw something that surprised her. Arc's voice dropped to a deadly low tone as she jammed her index finger on Kor's chestplate. "You hurt Bean," she seethed, "and I'll kill you. Now, is that clear?"
Kor didn't even flinch. A long moment of silence spanned between the two. "...Yes."
Arc slowly dropped her hand and she sighed, backing away. "I know what it's like to hold a grudge too, Kor. Trust me, it won't get you anywhere except deeper in your own grave."
Sabine saw Kor tilt his helmet away. "You know why I will never forgive her," he said, his voice sounding hoarse.
"I blamed her too, once," Arc said. "I blamed her for the deaths of my parents, and you blame her for losing your loved ones. Kor, you have to settle this. Today. Just tell her who you really are."
Sabine narrowed her eyes as she peered through the gap in the tent. Wait… if he's not 'Kor'... then who the heck is he? She watched as Kor suddenly straightened.
"Korkie Kryze is dead," he announced. "He died in that fire with my wife. Me? I barely remember the guy."
Sabine's heart stopped and she slowly backed away from the tent, her hand going to her mouth.
Korkie Kryze.
The name raced around in her mind. Kor… Kor was Korkie. Kor was Korkie Kryze. He found me. He found me, I'm dead. Sabine grabbed her head as memories began to rush back.
Fire. Fire everywhere.
Sabine swallowed and backed up into a crate. She gripped the rim tight as a wave a vertigo pulled down at her.
Blinding lights. The waving of an Imperial flag. Laserfire.
"Stop," Sabine whispered. "Stop."
Stormtroopers shooting down the Mandalorians. Men. Women. Children.
She closed her eyes tight, not able to stop the flow of memories.
Ketsu, grabbing Sabine's hand and pulling her away…
"Come on, little sister!" Ketsu shouted, clamping a hand on Sabine's wrist. "The Empire followed us! We have to leave, now!"
Sabine bit her lip as Ketsu jerked her along. They had been on the run from the Empire for a little over a week now and Clan Kryze had been their only option.
And Sabine had unknowingly led the Empire right to them.
Fires raged around Clan Kryze's once-glorious stronghold, flames burning a brilliant orange as black smoke wafted into the sky. Screams echoed in the air as stormtroopers broke into the Mandalorians' houses, lighting up the night even more with red blasts.
It was a massacre.
Clan Kryze had been so caught up in Sabine and Ketsu's arrival, that they hadn't had any warning when the Empire arrived.
They were tracking me, Sabine thought to herself, horrified. I did this. I caused more death, more pain.
"I bring destruction wherever I go," Sabine whispered.
Ketsu ignored her words, continuing to pull her along. Suddenly, Sabine froze as someone let loose a guttural wail of anguish.
She knew that scream.
Sabine slowly turned to see the Clan Kryze leader, the one they called Korkie Kryze, on his hands and knees before a house engulfed in flames. His clothes were charred and even from where Sabine stood, she could see the terrible burns on his hands and neck. He looked at her and she met his crystal blue eyes, tears streaming down his face.
"You did this!" he screamed at her, trying to get to his feet but collapsing from the damage of the fire. "I let you into our home and you led them right to us! You're a traitor, Sabine Wren! You killed her!"
Sabine could feel her eyes watering and her heartbeat race. She knew who he was talking about. Lagos. Korkie's pregnant wife.
She was still in the house.
She was dead.
Sabine felt her knees get weak, but for some reason, they didn't buckle like they would have a week ago. Instead, as if her legs had a mind of their own, she turned and began to run. Run. Run away from it all.
And Sabine never looked back.
"Ezra!" Sabine yelled, beginning to run towards the Mesh'la A'den on wobbly legs. "Ezra!"
The black-haired Padawan noticed her and Sabine saw his brows knit with concern. "Sabine?"
"We need to leave," she gasped, breathless, her heart hammering in her chest.
Ezra was still clueless. "I… know. That's what I'm doing. We're loading up the last of the crates now-"
"You don't understand," Sabine said and her eyes darted around. "We have to leave now. He's gonna kill me-"
Ezra suddenly grabbed both of her arms and placed himself in front of her. "Sabine," he said sternly. "Slow down. What's wrong?"
Sabine stared at Ezra. How could she explain? What could she say? After all these years, Korkie Kryze had finally found her. Or rather, she had found him.
He was responsible for putting the traitor's brand to her name, making her an outcast among other Mandalorians… Ha. As if her name needed to be stained even more after her direct involvement in Mandalore's enslavement.
"Sabine Wren."
Sabine froze and slowly turned around. Kor-or rather, Korkie Kryze-stood before her… helmet finally off.
His familiar face appeared more ghostly than the last time they had met face-to-face, his cheeks sunken in and his fair skin even paler. Korkie Kryze's light blonde hair was streaked with gray, a noticeable sign of his increasing age, and slight wrinkles had appeared around his eyes that hadn't been there four years ago.
Sabine also noticed thin, faint, pink scars stretching at his jawline, the rest being hidden by the collar of his Mandalorian body stocking. And they weren't just scars. They were burns. An everyday reminder of Sabine's "treachery."
And the wife and unborn child he hadn't been able to save.
Korkie Kryze looked at Wren with untinted vision, cradling his helmet in one hand. It had been four years since he had last seen the girl. And now? ...Well, she wasn't much of a girl anymore. Wren had gotten a little taller and had completely grown into her lean frame. Her hair wasn't brown anymore, but a striking shade of white and purple. Her once-round face had lost all baby fat and anything that resembled a child. But she still had the same amber eyes. The same piercing, hard, wary eyes that spat a warning sign to Kor. At least that part of Sabine Wren hadn't changed.
Kor could hear Arc come up behind him and he glanced over at her, his gaze softening. He had developed a father-and-daughter like relationship with the young woman, ever since he had joined the Death Watch shortly after the eradication of Clan Kryze. Arc was his leader. But also the child he never had. And both sides of the same person were coming out in her. She wanted him to settle his grudge with Sabine Wren. Korkie knew she did.
But then Kor looked back to Sabine. Sabine Wren. Just the very name made him want to spit in anger. Korkie inhaled slowly. He wanted the girl dead. He wanted her dead so bad.
"So, Korkie Kryze," the girl said suddenly, surprising him. Her amber eyes still looked like they were carved from steel. "What will it be? A fight to the death? A duel to avenge your Clan?"
Kor stared down at Sabine Wren. She was goading him on. Why?
She can't deal with the guilt any more than I can, Korkie realized suddenly. She wants this. Just as much as I do.
"Neither," Kor said eventually. And it must have been the hardest word he ever had to say. "I'm being torn apart," he continued in a hoarse whisper. "But I will not fight you. For you are the Mand'alor and I've sworn to follow you."
Sabine Wren's hard amber eyes widened. "No," she growled through clenched teeth. "No, you don't mean it. You know you want to fight me. Do it!"
Kor laughed a bitter, cold laugh. "Oh, how our positions have changed," he said with sour amusement. "I do want to fight you, Sabine Wren. And kill you. What you've done is unforgivable."
He watched as she looked to the ground. "I didn't know the Empire was following me," she whispered. "It was an accident."
"Your accident," Kor snarled, "cost the lives of my entire family. Everyone I'm related to, any legacy I would hope to leave, wiped out. Murdered. Massacred."
He watched as the girl before him flinched, seeming to cave before him. Kor took a step closer. "You left us, Sabine Wren. In Clan Kryze's darkest hour, after we opened our homes to you, you didn't stand with us. You ran. Like a coward."
Before Korkie could take another step closer, someone stepped in between himself and Wren. It was her companion, the one she called Ezra.
"Back off!" the boy snarled, pushing Kor away. "I don't know what you think Sabine did, but she's not a coward. And even if she did leave before, she's here now. Don't you see? Sabine didn't kill off Clan Kryze; the Empire did. And she's trying to stop them! We all are."
Korkie gritted his teeth. He wanted to rear back and slap the boy for interfering with Mandalorian business. But… maybe he had a point.
I swore I would avenge Lagos, he reminded himself. I swore it. And as a Mandalorian, my word is my bond.
But he also swore to Arc. He swore to follow her as his leader, until death do them part. And Arc had sided with Mand'alor the Free.
Why is this so difficult?
Kor closed his eyes, remembering his wife's face. Her blonde hair, her striking blue eyes, her kind face, her sweet smile, her beautiful laugh. All of that was gone. Gone forever. Sabine Wren had led the Empire right to them and even then… she had a chance to help fight. But the girl had run like a coward. Away from her mistake, away from the screams and echoes of the dying, away from the fire, away from the once-proud Clan Kryze.
How can I ever forgive her of that? Kor thought despairingly.
As if Sabine Wren could read his thoughts, she put her hand on her companion's shoulder and stepped out behind him. "Korkie Kryze," she said slowly. "I didn't know the Empire was following us, I swear. But every day, what happened with your clan haunts me. I've never forgotten my mistake. But I'm here to fix it now. I'm through with running. I came back. And I swear I'll do whatever it takes to regain some shred of trust from you."
Korkie hesitated, knowing his next words would mean everything. "...If Arc gave a murderous band of hooligans like the Death Watch a second chance…" Kor said and swallowed, almost hating the next sentence that came out of his mouth."Then… Then you should get one as well."
Korkie forced himself to think about all those years of brooding and planning his revenge, of venting his rage to anyone who was listening, of flipping tables and throwing chairs in raw anger, of curling up in the corner of a room and weeping, weeping for a wife that would never come home and an infant son he would never hold in his hands.
I'm done letting vengeance consume me, Korkie told himself, letting all of it go. Everything. Lagos was indeed gone, and no amount of killing and ranting would bring her back. Korkie might never have a child of his own blood… but wasn't family more than bloodline?
Korkie looked over at Arc Wren. They were almost eye-level. Although Arc was his leader... she was also, in a way, the daughter Kor would never have. And how many times had he raved to her about his hate of her cousin? How many times had he unknowingly pushed Arc into agreeing with him?
I shouldn't have influenced her like that, Kor thought to himself guiltily. I only made her trust issues even worse. How come he hadn't been able to see it?
Kor knew Arc had hated on Sabine for years, and he had encouraged it. But now, somehow, Arc had managed to see the situation with new eyes, to let her cousin back into her heart... And if a messed up kid like Arc had been able to forgive Sabine, how could Kor not do the same?
Korkie looked back at Sabine Wren. Although she was little more than a child, Kor saw a glimpse of something deeper. The way her steely amber eyes flashed with compassion, and her brows relax ever so slightly. Kor noticed the way her shoulders were held straight back and her stance was dominant. Imposing.
Korkie saw a leader.
Suddenly feeling ashamed of his unloyal ways, Kor fell to his knees. "Forgive me Mand'alor," he said, head bowed. "I swear my life and my liberty to you. May the manda look upon this oath and honor it."
Kor looked up at the girl as he breathed the last words.
"Par kote bal ijaat," Korkie Kryze breathed in Mando'a, "be Mand'alor."
Mand'alor the Free nodded once, a corner of her lip tugging upwards in a smile. Kor rose and glanced over at Arc. The young woman was beaming with excitement and she finally rushed forward, tackling Korkie in a hug.
"I'm so proud of you, Kor," she whispered, her lean arms clamped around his sides.
Korkie Kryze suddenly felt uncharacteristically happy, a drastic change. He hugged Arc back. "Thanks, kiddo," he whispered, an inkling of a smile spreading across his lips.
If this was what it was like to change… then Kor was going to adjust just fine.
Sabine walked into the Mesh'la A'den, her helmet under her arm. She could see Arc sitting at the controls, prepping for liftoff, getting ready to leave for Chopper Base. And Luc was just in front of Sabine, keying something into his gauntlet.
And then there was Kor.
He had his helmet under one arm and a bag under the other. Ever since pledging his loyalty to Sabine only a few hours ago, Kor had been acting like a new person. Or, rather, like the Korkie Kryze Sabine had been welcomed by all those years ago.
She knew it would take Kor a while to warm up to her, but she would be okay with that. Because he was giving her a second chance. And she wouldn't make him regret it.
"Would you get your boyfriend on, Bean?" Arc snapped, interrupting her thoughts. Sabine looked over to see the Death Watch leader fingering with the yoke. "We've gotta get moving."
Sabine smiled at Arc's aggravation and looked out of the Mesh'la A'den to see Ezra, surrounded by little Mandalorians. Kids of all ages were poking him, prodding him, and bugging him about when he would return.
Sabine smiled wider. Ezra had become wildly popular with the Death Watch children. They loved him and ever since Sabine and Ezra had played Meshgeroya, the kids continued to beg Ezra to play with them.
"Ezra!" Sabine called, thumping the Mesh'la A'den's hull. "We're leaving!"
The boy glanced up and started for her, but the children protested loudly.
Chopper's voice suddenly broke in, and Sabine picked up her communicator. "This is Specter 5," she said. "Go ahead Specter 3."
Chopper grumpily beeped out a series of binary words, clearly complaining.
"I told you, Chop. You have to pilot the Phantom II so we can return it to Hera."
Chopper mournfully beeped another set of binary.
"You can't do it from this ship!" Sabine exclaimed. "Your know good and well your connection can't maintain through hyperspace."
Chopper let out a mechanical huff, muttering in droid-speak.
Sabine paused. "Why do you want to ride over here so badly, anyway?" she asked and paused again, smiling slyly. "Is it because you miss me?"
Chopper beeped exclamatorily, denying it.
"C'mon," Sabine teased, "don't lie…"
"Bean!" Arc interrupted again angrily. "Tell Ezra to get the kriff on here!"
Sabine turned to see the teen still outside, surrounded by a sea of children. He was trying to wade past them, but the kids kept coming.
"Ezra!" Sabine shouted, repeating Arc's words. "Get the kriff on here!"
"Okay!" came Ezra's strained reply. He finally pushed through the last wave of children and bounded up the Mesh'la A'den's ramp. "Go, go, go!" he yelled.
Sabine hurriedly pushed the button on the ship's insides and the ramp slowly closed.
"Bye!" one child shouted gleefully.
"Goodbye!" yelled another.
"We love you, areutii!" a kid called.
Ezra poked his head out from the closing ramp, not knowing that he'd just been thrown an insult. "Love you guys too!"
"Goodbye, Mand'alor!" the children and adults shouted together and even as the ramp closed, Sabine could still hear their cries of affection and love.
Goodbye, Death Watch, Sabine thought finally, smiling sadly.
Arc brought the Mesh'la A'den off the ground and they rocketed into the air and out of Mandalorian atmosphere. Sabine watched as her cousin clicked a button, putting the ship on autopilot.
"So," Arc said as she stood from the controls. "Where to, Mand'alor the Free?"
Sabine eased herself into the pilot's seat and Ezra took co-pilot. "The Rebellion, dear cousin," she said, almost teasingly. "The Rebellion."
Sabine checked a few more buttons, entered the coordinates into the starship, and commandeered it up and out. As the Mesh'la A'den exited Mandalore's atmosphere, Sabine eased the hyperspace lever forward.
With the stars lengthened around them and the black sky of space beginning to disappear, Sabine could just hear Ezra breath, "Atollon… here we come."
Let me hear a "PLOT TWIST!"
Anyone see the Kor = Korkie coming? Review about it! The next chapter will be called The Last Test... but don't worry, it's not the last chapter. Not by far ;) Anyways, every follow, fav, and kind OR critical word means a lot to me. Thanks for sticking with me, peoples!
Specter7 out.