C'mon guys stop telling everyone I'm dead.

Specter7 here and I have heard your pleas! I have come down from on high to deliver you this glorious, super long chapter. Soooo there's no good reason this is so late, except that I've been stupid busy with school and all the problems that come with it. Anyways! On with the 10,000+ word chapter!

May the manda be with you.

The New Mand'alor: Chapter 9: E Chu Ta

"Named must your fear be before banish it you can."

-Yoda

Ezra fingered with the co-pilot's seat's stuffing, totally bored. They were going on their second day in hyperspace. Who knew stuck in an enclosed space with Luc could be so completely… agonizing?

Ezra, Sabine, Arc, Kor, and Luc had been holed up in the Mesh'la A'den for a while now, on their way to the Rebellion. Ezra didn't even really know why they were going back.

...Well, take the back. Ezra did know why they had to go back to the Rebellion; to persuade Arc to participate in the final attack on Lothal's factories. That was the objective. That was why he and Sabine had journeyed all the way out to the Death Watch; to convince Mandalorian warriors to fight for the Rebellion. Ezra guessed he had kind of gotten caught up with the craziness of Sabine becoming the Mand'alor. The objective had… admittedly changed form since Sabine had declared herself the sole ruler. Now, the objective had become; rally the Mandalorians to follow Mand'alor the Free and take back Mandalore.

Too much Mando stuff, Ezra thought privately. I wonder how Hera is going to take all of this.

Ezra swiveled in his seat and looked back at the other passengers for what must have been the fiftieth time that hour. Kor was still absently cleaning his helmet, although it had started shining thirty minutes ago. Arc and Luc were playing that weird Mando game—cuhbikahd or something—but by hologram, projected from Luc's gauntlet.

Ezra turned back to his co-pilot's seat and fingered with the stuffing again. He had absently, accidently, tore a hole in the armrest and now the fluffy white stuffing poured out, granting Ezra with momentary entertainment.

He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. His and Sabine's trip had been a good one, and Ezra was relieved it wasn't over just yet. Some of Ezra's favorite missions were the ones that were just he and Sabine was on. Of course, on all those missions, Chopper acted like the grumpy chaperone, making sure the two youngest members of the Ghost crew didn't get into any trouble.

Ezra smiled slightly. But trouble sure had a way of finding us, he thought to himself.

The Padawan looked at the girl again and closed his eyes, sending a tendril of Force energy out. He could sense Sabine as if he could see her. That was how strong her Force-signature was. It was bold and strong, yet… warm and expressive. Her signature was entrancing. Intoxicating. It dared Ezra to get lost in its warm, bright depths.

"Ezra."

The teen's eyes snapped open to see Sabine glaring at him. "What?"

"Stop doing that," she whispered, her voice low. "You look like you're asleep on your feet."

Ezra glanced around self-consciously at their companions. When none of the Mandalorians seemed to be paying any attention to him, he turned back to Sabine.

"Meditating is going to be the least of your worries," Ezra said, his voice low. "When they get to Chopper Base and see Kanan blind and all..."

Sabine gripped the steering yoke tighter. "I know."

Ezra paused. Their Mandalorian passengers were bound to flip once they realized Kanan was a Jedi. And if they pulled out their blasters… Well, Ezra wasn't just going to stand by and watch. "So what are you going to do?" He asked.

Ezra watched as the young Mand'alor bit her lip. "I'm still figuring that out."

"Hey!" Arc hollered, interrupting their conversation cheekily. "Isn't there some Mandalorian proverb about not keeping secrets?"

Ezra swiveled in his chair to see Sabine's cousin arching an eyebrow from where she sat cross-legged on the Mesh'la A'den's metal flooring.

"Isn't there a Mandalorian proverb about minding your own business?" Sabine shot back.

Arc turned back to her holographic Mando game with a shrug. "Just throwing it out there, little cousin," she said, before keying something into her own gauntlet and the game automatically moved her piece. "You two have been whispering an awful lot."

Ezra watched Sabine's lips twist and her brows furrowed. She instantly rolled a knob off of the console and threw at Arc, hitting the Death Watch leader in the back of the neck.

Arc rubbed the spot, sending a murderous glare at Sabine, before Sabine simply turned back to the yoke. Ezra gave a lopsided grin as he heard Arc mutter a string of Mando'a curses.

As Ezra continued to look at Arc his smile faded and his happy mood along with it. The Death Watch leader had a thin, long, blonde braid on the right side of her head. Which was weird, since the rest of Arc's hair was dark brown. As soon as he had met the lady, he had known exactly what that braid was.

It was a Padawan braid.

Kanan had told him of those, how it represented a Jedi learner's apprenticeship. Back in the day, before the Empire, Kanan had said that all Padawans were required to have it. Ezra had once even played with the idea, plaiting his hair in a thin band a while ago, when he'd had his hair long. But Zeb had made fun of the braid so Ezra had dismantled it.

But Ezra was a Padawan. He had a reason to wear it. So why did Arc have one too?

Ezra glanced at Sabine, brushing her mind again with the Force. She obviously felt it and glanced over, opening her mouth to lecture him about how she didn't like it, when Ezra sent her a mental picture of the blonde braid.

He didn't have to say anything else.

Sabine seemed to grow solemn with understanding and she sighed. "She killed a Padawan, Ezra," Sabine breathed, her voice tinged with regret. "It's… It's a trophy."

Ezra swallowed hard. He had figured as much. He wasn't stupid. But… but why? He shook his head bitterly. …Of course. Mandalorians. All they did was kill. They killed for fun. Why would Arc be any different?

"War, blood, and battle," Ezra breathed hoarsely. "It's what makes a Mandalorian a Mandal—"

"—Don't," Sabine interrupted, her voice dangerously low. "You can't judge an entire race by the acts of one."

Ezra looked up at the girl. "…Why not?" he said slowly, anger starting to burn at the pit of his stomach. "Your people did it to mine. Aren't you Mandos still hating us for something that happened thousands of years ago?"

Sabine slammed her fist on the console. "Kriff, Ezra! We're not our—" she suddenly cut herself off and Ezra realized that the rest of the passengers were staring at them.

Finally, Arc broke the silence. "Well, don't mind us," the Death Watch leader said, turning back to her game. "Continue on with your argument."

Ezra could feel the waves of aggravation coming off of Sabine, blotting out everything—even Arc's smug attitude. Sabine suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled him across the room and into the ship's hallway, the automatic door sliding shut.

"We are not our ancestors," Sabine said finally, free from the prying ears of Arc. "I'm sick of this Jedi-Mandalorian stuff."

Ezra threw his hands up in the air exasperatedly. "Me too!"

Sabine put her hands on her hips. "Look who's talking, Mister War-Blood-and-Battle!"

Ezra's mouth dropped. "Seriously? You have no room, Miss My-Mom-Doesn't-trust-Jedi-and-I-Don't-Either."

Sabine clenched her jaw, moaning through her teeth. "I said I was sorry!"

Ezra pinched the bridge of his nose, shutting his eyes. He swallowed the bitter words that were threatening to come out and breathed evenly. Mandalorians were so crinking violent! Why couldn't they just negotiate instead of killing their enemies? What would galaxy-wide conquest bring?

But then Ezra looked at Sabine again. She didn't fit into the category of what he thought Mandalorians should act like. Yeah, she was aggressive, and fearless, and a way better shot than him… But Sabine acted so… so… humane. Sure, she loved a good firefight, but she wasn't bloodthirsty. Yeah, she took pride in her heritage, but she resented that her people couldn't stop fighting each other.

And if Sabine didn't fit into stereotypical Mandalorian category, maybe the rest of the Mandalorians didn't. Ezra had to at least give them a chance.

"Look," Ezra began eventually, his voice strained. "Let's just… Just forget about what our people did before us, okay? Whatever your mom said, whatever Kanan told me, it doesn't matter. We make our own destinies."

He watched as Sabine hesitated, nodding mutely. "You're right," she said eventually. "'Make our own destinies.' That's why I don't give a kriff about your Force, Ezra. I don't want to be tied down by something that says my fate is already decided."

Ezra slowly shook his head. This again. "That's not how the Force works, Sabine," he said evenly. "Having the Force guide your footsteps isn't the same as sealing your fate-"

"-I don't want any of it," Sabine interrupted fiercely. "I don't need it, and I sure don't trust it."

Ezra groaned mentally. Why did she have to be so stubborn? "We all need the Force," Ezra growled. "Whether we like it or not. The Force is in everyone. It binds the entire galaxy together! Shouldn't you be happy it's decided to honor you by guiding your journey?"

"No!" Sabine yelled angrily, moving closer to him. "Everything I've done up until this point has been because of me. I don't need your Force. You have it and that's great and all, but I'm fine on my own."

Ezra was about to continue their argument when a jolt suddenly rattled the Mesh'la A'den, interrupting their heated conversation.

He was thrown against Sabine and the two crashed into the wall as the ship shook violently. Ezra's head banged into the metal hallway and Sabine's breath tickled his left ear. He couldn't help grinning at their situation, considering he was nearly embracing the Mandalorian as gravity hammered him.

"We've jumped out of hyperspace," Sabine mumbled from under him.

Ezra moved to get off of her when the ship shook again and slammed him sideways. Ezra's hands grappled for Sabine as he was thrown completely off-kilter, but Sabine only pushed him out of her way and ran down the hallway, sliding as the Mesh'la A'den tilted from right to left.

"What's wrong?" Sabine yelled to the other passengers and Ezra hurried after her. "Are we under attack?"

Ezra poked his head out the hallway just in time to hear Luc reply; "Only from Arc's horrendous piloting skills."

Ezra looked to see Sabine's cousin at the controls, steering the ship shakily. Ezra glanced over at Sabine to see her huff, and he knew they were thinking the same thing. Arc had come out of hyperspace badly on purpose, trying to interrupt their argument.

"Hey, Bean!" Arc hollered to them and yanking the yoke around again, causing the passengers to nearly fall over themselves. "I'd make quite the rebel pilot, eh?"

As Ezra watched the goofy Mando play around with the ship, not even listening as Sabine scolded her, he wondered how someone like Arc could be so dangerous as to kill a Padawan. Or earn that impressive scar on her face.

I guess looks can be deceiving, Ezra decided, watching as Sabine took the controls again and began to fly towards Atollon. After all, they haven't figured out I'm a Jedi yet.

Yet the thought of Kanan, blind, with his lightsaber on his hip came to mind.

But they are going to figure that out real soon.

Ezra was the first to walk out and as his feet hit the sandy ground of Atollon, he smiled. Finally, no freezing cold wind chilling him to his bones. No muddied snow staining his boots and clothes. No numb fingers and shivery hands.

But, Ezra added mentally, no cute little Death Watch kids to play with either. No thrilling, exciting games of bolo-ball. No challenging, adrenaline-rushing spars to look forward to… Wow… I've been home for two seconds and I already miss Mandalore.

The feeling was definitely strange to Ezra, but as he spotted Hera ahead of him, his face broke out with another smile. However much fun he had had at Death Watch, the Ghost crew would always be his family.

He jogged up to Hera. "Did you miss us?" Ezra asked with a lopsided grin.

The green Twi'lek smiled back, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Of course. It's been far too quiet without the two of you."

Ezra rubbed the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly. "Yeah…" he began hesitantly, "it's about to get a whole lot louder. We… kinda picked up a few extra passengers."

Ezra watched as Hera got The Look on her face. She arched a jet-black eyebrow cautiously, and her tone got that no-nonsense sound to it.

"And how many passengers," Hera deadpanned, "is "a few"?"

Ezra looked up at her, cringing on the inside as he delivered the next words. "Heh… Uh, three other Mandalorians? Not including Sabine. Or… Rau. If he's here."

Hera groaned. "We're being overrun," she muttered, seeming to be half-kidding and… half really not.

Ezra hesitated, wondering how to word the next words. "Hera, these Mandos," he began slowly, "they didn't come for a friendly-get-together. It's… It's pretty serious."

Ezra watched Hera's face grow somber. "How serious?"

"A Mandalorian group called the Death Watch is considering joining the Rebellion."

Hera looked shocked. She was silent for a whole moment. Then two. Then three. And then: "Okay."

Ezra was surprised at the simple word and watched as Hera straightened, pushed her shoulders back and nodded once. "I'll alert Commander Sato for an immediate meeting."

She turned to go, but Ezra stopped her. "Hera," he said hesitantly. There was something just as momentous that Hera should really be concerned about. "That's not all. Sabine… might've sorta become the sole ruler of her people."

This time, Hera really was shocked. "What?"

Ezra rubbed the back of his neck again. "I can't really explain it that well. She challenged her cousin to a duel to the death and ended up winning. So… now she's the leader of all Mandos."

Hera stared hard at him. "Ezra Bridger, if this is some kind of prank…"

"It's not!" Ezra exclaimed. "I'm serious! Sabine goes by Mand'alor the Free now and everyone has to bow when they see her and—"

Hera sighed, interrupting him, and moved past him towards the Mandalorian ship. "I don't have time with this," she muttered as she walked.

Ezra's mouth dropped as he watched her go. Seriously? She didn't believe him! I am insulted, Ezra thought indignantly.

He glanced up to see Luc, Kor, and Arc, walking down the Mesh'la A'den's ramp, one behind the other. All three Mandos examined Atollon curiously, two pairs of baby blue eyes flicking about along with one piercing green. Each Mando had their dusky-colored, weathered, dark green helmets under their arms, looking all tough and important. But they all instantly parted as Sabine walked down the ramp and between them, her crimson cloak billowing as she went.

Ezra could sense Hera's surprise, but she masked it well as the Mandalorians came up to them. Luc had his hands behind his back, looking mildly interested in their base. Kor rested one hand on his blaster casually, and the other hand gripped his helmet tightly. And Arc… Arc's stance was confident and erect, nearly aggressive. Her back couldn't have been any straighter if Ezra had duraglued a rod to it. Everything about the Death Watch leader screamed danger.

It was odd, how one moment; Arc could be a big goof, acting like a total fool, completely content with her own idiocy and blissful in spite of her ignorance. And then the next, she was a tall, impending, ominous-looking ruler of a band of assassins.

Ezra watched as Hera contained herself and he was impressed with the fact that the Twi'lek didn't flinch away from Arc. Hera looked to Sabine, smiling dryly.

"Sabine," Hera greeted emotionlessly.

"Captain Syndulla," Sabine said with a nod. "I would like to introduce you to Luc Tenau." Sabine gestured to the blonde Mandalorian and he nodded slightly. "Korkie Kryze." Sabine gestured to the second-in command and he lifted his head up a fraction of an inch, hardly acknowledging Hera. "And, my cousin, Arc Wren. She is the leader of the Death Watch and is here to talk negotiations of their alignment with the Rebellion."

Sabine didn't need to gesture to Arc, for the young woman walked forward, jutting her chin out. "Are you the leader of this rebel cell?" she asked straightforwardly.

Ezra watched as Hera's face remained impassive. "No, but I am the leader for this cell's squadron. I can bring you to our commanding officer."

Arc nodded once. "Lead the way, Captain Syndulla. But first, I'd ask that you would get someone to unload my ship. We have supplies for your rebellion. Call it a … peace offering, if you will."

"We are grateful," Hera replied diplomatically. "And I'll see to it." She turned and began to walk away towards the center of the camp. "This way."

Ezra watched them go and fell back to be in line with Sabine. "How'd she take it?" the young Mand'alor asked quietly.

Ezra huffed, remembering Hera's words. "She didn't believe me," he answered. "But I guess you becoming the sole ruler of your people is a pretty hard thing to swallow."

Sabine snorted. "Tell me about it. I can hardly believe it myself."

Ezra hesitated. He'd had a question he'd been meaning to ask Sabine, but he hadn't known exactly how to word it. "About that," Ezra began slowly, "I thought since you're the new Mand'alor, Arc and the others have to join the Rebellion. …Right? 'Cause, didn't you say that one of your Mando rules is that your people have to rally to the Mand'alor's cause?"

Sabine glanced over at him, seeming to hesitate. "It's… complicated, Ezra. Yes, according to the Resol'nare, all Mandalorians must rally to the Mand'alor, or try their hardest to get someone else in that position. But the whole purpose of the Mand'alor is to protect the Mandalorian culture. To "protect our own," as my mother would say. Yet the Rebellion fights for the freedom of the entire galaxy: not just the Mandalorian race. So everyone who wants to follow me, doesn't have to pledge allegiance to the Rebellion, because it doesn't benefit only Mandalore… Do you understand?"

Ezra looked at her, his brain trying to catch up to Sabine's words. "So," he said as his mind worked furiously. "The Death Watch doesn't have to join the Rebellion?"

"Right," Sabine clarified. "Because it doesn't benefit Mandalore. I can't order them to."

"So," Ezra continued, finally beginning to get it, "Arc coming here with peace offerings is a really good thing for the Rebellion."

"Yes," Sabine answered with a slight smile. "It means she's willing to align the Death Watch and all of House Caladon with Chopper Base and our rebel cell. If this works, we could make the Rebellion's ranks be several thousand troops stronger."

"And they're not just any troops," Ezra added with a grin, beginning to get excited, "they're Mandalorian troops."

"And not just any Mandalorian troops," Sabine double-added, playing off of Ezra, "they're Death Watch Mandalorian troops. Vicious, great shots, and bred for battle. If Hera can get Arc on board, the Empire won't stand a chance."

Ezra gave Sabine a lopsided grin. He was thrilled! Sure, he might hate Luc something fierce, but if his presence along with Arc and Kor was what it took to grow the Rebellion; he would embrace it with open arms. This was what they'd been waiting for! A chance to make a true difference. With Sabine, Mand'alor the Free, at the helm of it all.

Ezra was bored to death.

Despite his earlier hype, Ezra's eyes glazed over as Commander Sato began to monologue after the standard pleasantries had been exchanged with Arc.

Treaty meetings like these always got dull. That's why Ezra was usually never invited to them. That, and because he usually ended up jumping across the missions' debriefing table in the rare event that things got heated.

I don't know how Bail Organa does it, Ezra thought to himself, tapping his foot impatiently. Those Senate meetings would drive me crazy.

Ezra cast a quick glance around to see everyone slowly disperse as the meeting dragged on, the early excitement of the Mandalorian visitors long gone.

"So," a foreign voice said suddenly. "This is the base you've been bragging on for the past two weeks?"

Ezra glanced over to see Luc, and he frowned. "Yeah, it is," he growled. "If you wanna take a look around, I can toss you over the sensor line and feed you to the spiders. How's that sound?"

"Like a terrible attempt at a comeback," Luc shot.

Ezra's nose wrinkled in a snarl. "As if you could do any better," he snorted in disbelief.

"Kid," Luc said slowly, as if he was talking to someone much younger. "You cannot tell me you like living here. It's hot, dry, unpleasant, and crawling with krykna. And the only thing keeping them away are little sticks in the ground!"

Ezra opened his mouth to snap back a retort about how living in a wasteland like Mandalore was even worse… when something caught his eye.

"Kanan?" Ezra murmured.

Luc frowned. "What?"

Ezra glanced over at the Mando distractedly. "Uh… n-nothing. Go insult someone else for a while. I'll be right back."

As Ezra was walking away, Luc exclaimed, "Excuse me?"

The Padawan ignored him and jogged to the end of the clearing to see Kanan, Zeb, and Fenn Rau. "Kanan!" Ezra whispered furiously.

"Ezra?" the blind Jedi called as he stopped. "Is that you?"

"It's him," Zeb supplied gruffly. "And the kid returned in one piece." Ezra watched as Zeb leaned closer, narrowing his green, glossy eyes, the black pupils shrinking. "Sabine was actually right," the Lasat muttered. "Different outcome from Malachor."

"Well," Ezra replied gravely, "our journey isn't over yet. Sabine and me still have a long way to go. We're really close to recruiting a Mandalorian group called the Death Watch but—"

"—Wait," Fenn Rau interrupted, his eyebrows raised, "she actually managed that?"

Ezra nodded, a hint of pride creeping into his voice. "Yeah. Sato and Hera are negotiating the leader's recruitment now."

Rau's eyes bugged and he took a step closer to Ezra. "Here?" he whispered furiously.

Ezra frowned slightly. What was wrong now? "…Yes," he answered slowly.

Rau shook his head violently and bounced the dark blue helmet under his arm nervously. "What was Sabine thinking?" Rau murmured to himself and pushed past Ezra.

The Padawan narrowed his eyes at the man. "Sabine did a great thing," he said defensively. "She got the Death Watch leader to join our Rebellion. Well, a-almost."

Rau glanced at Ezra over his armored shoulder. "I have no doubt it took an act of heroism to accomplish that feat," Rau growled, "but there is a thin line between heroism and foolishness."

Ezra gritted his teeth as he watched Rau walk away and moved to follow him, yet a strong hand pulled him back.

"Let him go, Ezra," Kanan said in a quiet order.

Ezra took in a leveled breath and turned to his master.

"Now," Kanan continued. "Tell me what's bothering you."

With a glance at Zeb, Ezra hesitated briefly. He finally shrugged mentally. Why not?

So Ezra filled Kanan and Zeb in on the recent events and how Sabine had become the new Mand'alor, the sole ruler of her people. He also told them of how Sabine had brought three Mandalorians along with her, and how they had a murderous hate of Jedi.

"No way we're letting them see you, Chief," Zeb said to Kanan in his deep, growling voice.

"Hiding who we are is underhanded," Kanan countered, turning his masked face to his Padawan. "And you can't keep your identity a secret forever, Ezra."

Ezra twitched impatiently. "I know. But for now, I don't want the Mandalorians to see you, Kanan. They don't know I'm a Jedi and I want to keep it that way."

It was a long moment before Kanan replied. "…Alright," he relented. "But you can't keep the truth hidden. It… has a way of revealing itself."

Ezra looked away. "I know."

Even though Kanan had his mask on, Ezra could feel his piercing stare through it. "What else?" Kanan said finally.

Ezra glanced at him before shaking his head angrily. "It's… nothing." Kanan would never understand anyway.

"Ezra," Kanan demanded.

Ezra stayed silent for a few moments longer, crossing his arms hard. Until finally, he couldn't stand it anymore. "It's Sabine!" Ezra exploded. "She's so stubborn!"

Zeb had his hands on his hips, looking unamused. "That's a Mandalorian for ya," he rumbled.

"No," Ezra said, shaking his head. "This is different. She wants to recruit a couple clans to the Rebellion and be done with it, but it's more than that. She doesn't see herself as the leader she could be, I know it. And she's doesn't see how the Force is guiding her footsteps... a-and she doesn't know why."

Kanan didn't reply but Zeb did. "And this your business how…?" he growled.

Ezra stomped his foot. "Zeb!" he complained.

Kanan put a hand on the big guy's shoulder. "Why don't you meet us back at the mission briefing table?" Kanan suggested.

Zeb gave an animal-like snort and began to shuffle off. "Just trying to help," he grumbled.

Ezra watched him go, staying silent.

"You know he's partly right," Kanan said suddenly. "I know you're concerned about Sabine, but you can't change what she's convinced herself of."

Ezra turned to face him. "But I could," he countered, "if I knew how. If I only knew how to explain the Force the right way to her-"

"Ezra," Kanan interrupted sternly. "You're not all-powerful. You're not going to have all the answers. Sometimes you just have to trust that everything is going to work itself out."

Ezra looked away, glaring at the ground. I know I'm not all-powerful, Ezra spat mentally. Because if I was, I'd be able to actually help Sabine! Not be a third wheel in her Mando journey.

"I know I don't have the answers," Ezra said aloud, looking back to Kanan. "That's why I came to you! You convinced me of my importance in the galaxy, and my place in the Force. Maybe you can convince her too."

Kanan sighed and put a hand on his hip. "If this is really what's bothering you," he said slowly, "then I can't help you. My advice would be to trust in the Force and let it to continue to guide her path." Kanan paused. "But that's not what you wanted to hear, is it?"

"I wanted to hear answers," Ezra shot back. "I have to help Sabine. So if you don't know what to do, then I'll go to someone who does."

Kanan tilted his head, and Ezra could sense the slight aggravation coming off of him. "Really," he growled. "And who's that?"

But Ezra's mind was already way ahead. He knew someone who would have the answers he seeked. Someone whose brain was a library of mysterious knowledge and riddles.

Ezra cast one angry glance back at his master. "You're smart," he muttered. "Figure it out."

Ezra left before Kanan could reply, and walking to the very edge of Chopper Base. And he didn't forget to grab a sensor marker on his way out.

Sabine listened silently as Arc and Sato went back and forth in their polite but intense debate. Arc had never been big on politeness, so Sabine half-wondered how long the state would last.

She didn't know much time had passed when Hera finally put a gentle hand on her shoulder a motioned her from the meeting.

"Come on," the Twi'lek said quietly.

Sabine hesitated and went to Arc's side. "You don't need me here, do you?"

Arc's dark green eyes passed from Sabine to Hera and she looked back at Sato distractedly. "No, it's fine," she said. "You go talk. We're almost done here."

Commander Sato only straitened and arched an eyebrow. "I highly doubt that," he said dryly.

Sabine watched as Arc smiled sweetly before continuing her list of demands. Sabine only shook her head and walked back to Hera.

Her mentor gave Sabine an enduring smile and gestured her forward. "Come help me unload supplies, will ya? You can tell me all about your journey then."

So Sabine did. At first, her words were slow and calculated, internally scrutinizing what she would and wouldn't tell Hera. But soon, it all just poured out. Sabine confided in the Twi'lek about her own difficulties in becoming the Mand'alor, outwardly and internally. Part of Sabine was still convinced she couldn't do it. Be the sole ruler of her people. Sabine felt as if it were all a dream-or a nightmare, really. Like she was walking around in another person's body.

The Sabine Wren she knew couldn't be the Mand'alor. There was no possible way. The Sabine she saw in the mirror was cold and distant. And rebellious. And a loner. An outcast. Who had the stupidity to follow her?

It's like they're looking at someone else when the see me, Sabine thought to herself. Someone else has to be able to lead better than me.

...But who?

That was the problem. Sabine didn't know who. Heck, no one she knew. And Mandalore needed her NOW. That was why she was here.

"That's why I'm doing it," Sabine finished aloud, her voice steely sure.

Hera nodded slowly as she pressed the anti-grav on the crate. "That's amazing, Sabine," she admitted finally. "And it looks like the Rebellion might have a new Mandalorian ally against the Empire because of you."

Sabine found she wasn't able to meet Hera's eyes as the Twi'lek went on.

"It'll be good to have you and Ezra back," Hera continued as she pushed the crate along. "Chopper Base has sure seemed lonely for the last couple of weeks. But there's been a lot less complaints about a mysterious vandal spray-painting the pilot's gear."

Sabine tried for a smile at Hera's teasing tone… but she couldn't. Sabine could only look away and scan the horizon.

"We're not staying," she said quietly. Sabine could feel Hera's eyes boring into the back of her neck. She took a quick breath and continued to stare into the distance as she pushed the crate.

"I'm the Mand'alor now, Hera," Sabine said hesitantly. "I vowed to lead my people and liberate them. They call me 'Mand'alor the Free' because of that. I… I don't know when me and Ezra will be able to come back to Chopper Base. Maybe a few months?" Sabine paused and licked her lips, quickly glancing back over to Hera. She was still pushing the crate, but her eyes were on Sabine. They were soft.

"Kor says at the rate we're going, it'll take me at least six months to rally a good bit of the Mandalorians," Sabine muttered. "And that's if we're quick and if I'm lucky. And we both know which of those two I'm pathetically short of."

Silence spanned between the two of them and Sabine looked away as she continued to push the crate. I'll be gone so long, Sabine thought to herself. Six months is half a year. The Rebellion will have made their attack on Lothal's factories by then. And even after that… what then? I'll be the Mand'alor.

Helplessness suddenly overwhelmed Sabine. She was in over her head. She was away from the Ghost crew, away from her blood family, and fighting the Empire head on. Surely someone could lead better than Sabine. She… she couldn't handle so much responsibility! She couldn't accept this fate!

"You can do this, Sabine," Hera said suddenly.

Sabine froze, the Twi'lek reading her mind. She gripped the rim of the crate tight but didn't move forward.

"If you think about your leadership too much," Hera continued, "then you'll get overwhelmed. Live by five minutes at a time. You can handle being the sole ruler for five minutes, right?"

Sabine knit her brows but eventually nodded.

Hera dipped her head and fixed Sabine with a firm but somehow gentle look. "Then go from there. Don't think about how many weeks or months you have to recruit the Mandalorians, just focus on new ways to rally them five minutes at a time."

Sabine sucked in a huge breath, closed her eyes, and slowly let the air out again. Five minutes. Sabine could be the Mand'alor for five minutes. But which planet are we going to after we leave Atollon? We have to rally the Mandalorians before the Rebellion launches the attack on Lothal's factories. We need those troops. What will happen if I can't provide them, though? What'll happen when my people won't rally to my cause-

Stop. No. Five minutes. For the next five minutes, Sabine could make a mental list about the Mandalorian worlds they could visit. The more population, the more Mandos that would rally to her. Sabine could do that for five minutes. No sweat.

"Thanks, Hera," Sabine said aloud, sighing again. Five minutes. She could be the Mand'alor for five more minutes.

"Not a problem," the Twi'lek said easily and began to push her crate again, Sabine matching her pace. "You know, I use that little trick when I'm in mission briefings sometimes. It can get a bit overwhelming, telling everyone what to do and how to do it, and even being responsible for their deaths if you give a bad order."

"Wait," Sabine interrupted, a corner of her mouth tugging upwards in a grin. "You get overwhelmed?"

Hera disengaged the grav on the crate and set it down next to a stack of supplies. Sabine followed suit.

"Of course," Hera scoffed. "I'm not invincible."

Sabine tilted her head and was about to reply when a string of warblings cut off her soon-to-be sentence.

"Chopper!" Hera exclaimed, turning to the cacophony of the droid's complaining

"Chopper," Sabine groaned, and didn't bother glancing over her shoulder to see the grumpy astromech. Almost forgot about him, Sabine mused. Almost.

The little droid rolled to Hera in a panic, only on one wheel. His binary words were being emitted so fast, Sabine's mind had to strain to catch up. Halfway through his story, Sabine realized what Chop was going on about. He shuffled closer to Hera and waved his manipulator arms about exaggeratedly, extending what was left of the right one to Hera.

Sabine's mentor dropped to her knees to take a closer look at the damage. "Karabast," Hera cursed, and Sabine was mildly surprised. There was only a handful of times the Twi'lek would let a word like that slip.

Chopper continued to harp about how his appendage had been blasted off by a person described in very colorful adjectives.

"You'll need a new arm," Hera muttered, holding the blackened rod in her hands. "Who did this?"

Sabine's eyebrows went up at the Twi'lek's angry tone. Luc is gonna die, Sabine thought grimly.

Chopper beeped an accusing statement at Sabine and she glared down at the droid.

Hera glanced up at her. "What'd you mean it's her fault?" Hera asked Chop. Her voice dropped low and she knit her thin brows. "Sabine, you better not have-"

"I didn't touch the murderbot!" Sabine protested, crossing her arms hard. "It was a Mandalorian in the Death Watch camp. Someone interrogated Ezra and shot Chopper to prove a point."

Using his damaged logic circuits, Chop suddenly decided to chime in about Luc's exact whereabouts.

"The Mandalorian is here?" Hera exclaimed, standing up. "ON Chopper Base?"

Sabine glared fiercer at the droid. "You're no help, you know that?" she muttered to him. Typical Chopper. Stirring up trouble just because he thought it was funny.

The droid put his manipulator arms on the on his "hips" and wiggled his squat body in a haughty gesture.

Sabine sneered down at him and Hera stepped in between the two. "Sabine," she said slowly, her eyes narrowed. "Tell me who hurt my droid."

Sabine held her hands out in front of her as if fending off an attack (which was almost true). "A guy named Luc," Sabine answered and stepped back to put a little distance between the two of them. "But I already sorted him out, Hera. He was just doing his job."

"I don't give a care about his job," Hera snapped back fiercely. "My job is making sure my crew stays safe."

"We are safe," Sabine soothed. "Chopper is over exaggerating, okay? He can't even process pain."

Chop instantly denied it and shoved his good arm at Sabine in what was probably a rude gesture in a droid's world.

Sabine forcefully kicked the squat astromech away. "See?" Sabine added as Chop was thrown onto his mechanical posterior. "He didn't even feel that."

Hera palmed her face and gave a heavy sigh. "I'll consider overlooking the sleemo that shot Chopper if he pays for my droid's new arm AND gives me a humble apology."

The droid beeped again.

"Me and Chop," Hera added.

Sabine sighed mentally. "Fine," she grumbled aloud. Luc owes me big time, Sabine thought.

Chopper gave a mechanical huff and grabbed Hera's hand with his good manipulator arm, pulling her along. The droid continued to blabber on and on about how Luc had hammered Ezra while interrogating him, and how Arc had nearly killed Sabine in a duel to the death, and how Kor had almost shot Sabine in the chest.

Sabine ran a hand through her dyed hair and made a mental note not to bring Chopper along when they left Atollon to rally the Mandalorians. He had gone from a grumpy chaperone to a cranky snitch.

Someone's gonna dismantalize that murderbot one day, Sabine thought to herself, and Hera won't be around to protect him.

Sabine uncrossed her arms with a sigh and trailed after her companions to the heart of the camp. Luc and Hera's "discussion" was not going to be pretty. Luc was a Mandalorian. And Mandalorians don't DO humble apologies.

Sabine began to jog forward and passed Hera and Chopper up. She needed to get to Luc before he met Sabine's adoptive angry mother. Luc owes me, she thought to herself again, somewhat angrily. He owes me so bad.

At the back of her mind, something resonated with the thought. Owes. Debts. That seems like all a Mandalorian is made up of these days.

Arc owes me for sparing her life in the duel to the death, so she follows me.

Fenn Rau owes Kanan for not killing him, so he joined the Rebellion.

I owe Kanan and Hera for saving me, for taking me in when everyone else abandoned me. And that's a debt I'll never be able to repay them for.

Sabine paused for a moment; there was a slight falter in her quick pace as a sudden thought entered the back of her mind.

And maybe that's okay.

Ezra trudged along Atollon's sandy dunes, wandering aimlessly. He'll be able to answer my questions, Ezra told himself. He hiked the sensor marker over a shoulder, the weighty metal rod beginning to get heavier in his hand.

"Come on," Ezra muttered to the wind. "Where are you?"

He was going to get answers. If Kanan couldn't help him, then Ezra would find someone who could.

"Bendu!" Ezra called. "Bendu! Where are you?" He stopped and impatiently tapped his foot, looking around. All Ezra could see was sand, sand and more sand.

"Focus, Ezra."

He remembered his master's words and breathed a sigh, letting go of all sense of urgency and relaxed. The giant, mystical creature was around here somewhere… Ezra reached out with the Force and searched the endless dunes and odd rock formations. He naturally honed in on a specific spot and walked forward, eyes closed and hand extended. Further and further and further… until:

"Bendu," Ezra said.

There was a loud shifting sound and he opened his eyes to see a monstrous form rising from the sand. The Bendu shook his mighty head, showering Ezra with grit and dirt.

"The apprentice returns," the creature growled, blowing a puff of air our his nostrils. "And with… trouble, mmm?"

Ezra pursed his lips, wondering how to continue. "I need your advice, Bendu," he said eventually. "Can you help me?"

The creature tilted his monstrous head, beard waving in the hot, dry wind. "Well, that depends," he rumbled. "What advice do you seek, Ezra Bridger, lost Padawan?"

Ezra frowned, unsatisfied with his given title. "I'm not lost," he objected.

The Bendu raised his head, the sun glinting off his rocky antlers. "If you were not lost," he countered, "then you would need no guidance, yet here you are… Ezra Bridger, lost Padawan."

He slumped his shoulders in defeat and decided to let it go. Besides, he wasn't here to discuss himself. "My friend," Ezra began, "you've never met her before, and she isn't a Force-user. But I've felt the Force guide her footsteps up until this point, yet she rejects it. She won't accept her fate. I… I don't know what to do."

The Bendu's cloudy eyes remained impassive. "...What do you want to do?" he inquired.

"I want to convince her that her destiny is important," Ezra answered sternly. "But she won't accept the fact that the Force is with her. She's too stubborn."

"Or perhaps you are too protective?" the Bendu countered.

Ezra froze. "...What?"

"Your presence is conflicting," the large creature continued, rubbing his fist against the sand. "It is a storm of emotions, much like your friend you speak of. What is her name?"

Ezra swallowed. "Sabine Wren," he answered, wondering why it mattered. Weren't they getting a little off track?

"Yes," Bendu continued slowly. "I've sensed her troubled presence, a broken warrior, that one."

"So you've sensed her importance in the Force," Ezra jumped in immediately. "You know she has a destiny."

Bendu turned his mighty head towards the boy. "Everyone has a destiny," he rumbled, "but only some embrace it. Your friend you speak of is no excuse. Should she refuse her own importance, it would hinder her growth. Should she embrace it and the Force… then you would not have to worry, mmm? Such is the way of things."

Finally, they were getting somewhere! "So how do I convince her?" Ezra asked quickly.

The Bendu narrowed his cloudy, distorted eyes. "While your friend's downfall may be her own independence… your fatal flaw is no less dangerous."

Ezra clenched his jaw. "And that's what?" he challenged.

"Why, personal loyalty!" the Bendu exclaimed, as if finding it funny. "You devote yourself to the safety of Sabine Wren with an overabundance of passion… just as you would to any of your other friends."

Ezra knit his deep black brows. "And what's wrong with that?" he growled back.

The Bendu sighed. "Some paths are meant to be walked alone," he rumbled. "And there will be nothing you can do to change the outcome."

Ezra crossed his arms. "So that's all the advice you can give me? You didn't answer my question on what I can do to convince Sabine of her importance."

"I did," the Bendu corrected, his voice becoming dangerously deep. "And the answer is; nothing.

"There are some things that are simply out of your control… Ezra Bridger, lost Padawan."

Ezra fumed as made his way back into Chopper Base, sticking the thumper back into the sandy ground. Total waste of time, he muttered. All Bendu could tell me was to do nothing. Heh. Some wisdom.

"He's wrong," Ezra muttered. There was always something Ezra could do. And he wouldn't stand by while his best friend rejected her destiny! The Force shrouded Sabine with unseen tendrils, working its way into her emotions and guiding her feet and decisions. How come Sabine couldn't see it?

Ezra looked over at Sabine in the distance, walking to Sato as the commander summoned her. Ezra's electric blue eyes flitted over the Mandalorian's lean, athletic form, flowing cape, and crossed arms. Even now, she looked defiant. Stubborn.

"She can't see," Ezra murmured to himself. If she couldn't see the danger in her stubborn ignorance… then Ezra had to protect her. He couldn't let her special destiny slip from his grasp. He couldn't let her slip from his grasp.

Whatever happened on the rest of their journey, Ezra would be ready. He wouldn't let her walk the rest of this path alone. Ezra was with her.

All the way.

Sabine cautiously made her way to Commander Sato as he summoned her. The Rebel leader looked over his shoulder and motioned to Ezra as well.

"Sir? Ezra asked, seeming impatient for some reason as he came to stand next to her.

"What I'm about to say is of upmost importance, Ezra Bridger," Sato said sternly.

Sabine watched curiously as Ezra sighed, stilling his shaky fingers and tapping foot. "Sorry," he apologized.

Sato turned to both of them and Sabine narrowed her eyes. The way he was looking at her… I've got a bad feeling about this, she thought to herself. Was the guy about to punish her? Demote her? What did she do wrong?

Finally… Commander Sato spoke. "Congratulations," he said at last, "both of you. I entrusted you with this mission, Sabine Wren, and you have more than exceeded my expectations. The same goes to you, Ezra Bridger."

Sabine and the Padawan exchanged glances. She was hesitantly hopeful. I wonder where this is going…

"The Rebellion now has a major Mandalorian ally," Sato continued.

"Arc joined us?" Ezra instantly interrupted, Sabine feeling the same excitement.

Sato ignored the interruption and continued on. "And for that, Sabine Wren, you will be leading your expedition back not as a lieutenant… but as a commander."

Sabine's eyes widened. No way, she thought incredulously. No way! I've… I've got a promotion!

Sabine swallowed and allowed herself to smile slightly. She saluted the man. "Thank you."

Commander Sato simply nodded and then turned to Ezra and Sabine watched, barely containing her excitement as Sato spoke the finalizing words to her best friend.

"You have grown, young Ezra Bridger," Commander Sato said, a corner of his mouth lifting in the beginnings of a smile, "in maturity as well as power. So, it is my privilege to suspend your… suspension. You are once again, Lieutenant Commander." This time, Sato saluted Ezra, which the boy hastily mimicked.

"Thank you, sir!" he said quickly. "I won't let you down again."

Sabine watched as Sato let his hand fall to his side. "I know," the commander replied and nodded to both of them as he left.

As soon as Sato was gone, the two teens turned to each other, smiling ear to ear.

"Congrats, Lieutenant," Sabine said as she grinned. "You earned it. Really earned it."

"Back at you, Commander," Ezra replied, a lopsided grin plastered on his face.

"You know," Sabine teased, "this time, I actually outrank you."

She watched as Ezra shook his head slowly, a smile on his lips. "I'll say it before and I'll say it again. You can't outrank a Jedi. I'm in a totally different league than the rest of you mortals."

Sabine put a hand on her hip, bantering, "Well this mortal is your commanding officer."

She watched as Ezra stepped closer and for some reason… she didn't back away. "Are you going to try to give me an order?" he asked quietly and Sabine looked up at him, something fluttering in her chest.

Wait… what?

But before she could contemplate the alien feeling, her Mandalorian vambrace went off, and Sabine glanced at it. She began to frown, confused, as it beeped and a light blinked in and out.

"What's up?" Ezra asked quietly.

Sabine stared at it. "I… programmed the vambrace to link to the Mesh'la Aden in case of any… abnormal activity."

"And?"

Sabine's eyes suddenly widened with realization. Karabast, she cursed mentally. "We're being hailed," Sabine told the Padawan, beginning to run towards the small crowd of Mandalorians.

"Arc!" she called to her cousin, and motioned for her and the others to follow. "C'mon! Someone's hailing us."

But Arc, as stubborn as ever, made no move to follow Sabine. "Who?" She demanded.

Sabine stared her cousin down, making her next words slow and clear.

"Death Watch."

Thirty seconds later, Arc, Ezra, Kor, Luc, Fenn Rau and Sabine piled into the Arc's Mandalorian carrier, hovering over the control panel as a glowing blue hologram emitted from the ship's holoprojector.

As it flickered to life, a familiar face came into view. "Talk to me Jaxon," Arc prompted, pushing to the front of the slight mob.

Sabine realized it was indeed Jaxon, the man in his late twenties who had played Meshgeroya with them ever so often.

The Mando looked nervous as Sabine watched him run a fair-skinned hand through his slick, blonde hair. "Well," Jaxon began slowly, "You know I'm from Clan Ordo, right?"

"So?" Arc said impatiently.

"Clan Ordo sent Mand'alor the Free a message," Jaxon said hesitantly.

Sabine froze. What? She glanced over at Arc, and the two looked at each other questioningly.

And in that moment of brief silence, Ezra butted in. "What's Clan Ordo?"

Sabine rolled her eyes. In the back of her mind, she knew it wasn't the Padawan's fault he was so clueless to her culture… but it got tiresome having to explain every little Mando thing to Ezra.

Sabine opened her mouth to tell him, but Luc beat her to it. "Clan Ordo is one of the oldest Mandalorian clans in history," Luc said, glancing at Ezra. "The fact that they want to talk to Sabine—"

"—To Mand'alor," Kor corrected, "Is… big. Really, really big."

"Like, liberate Mandalore big," Arc added.

Sabine swallowed and licked her lips. Clan Ordo, she thought to herself disbelievingly. "Well," Sabine said finally, "What did they say, Jaxon?"

The man in the form of the hologram ran a hand through his hair nervously again. "… It's best if I just let you see it, Mand'alor."

Sabine watched as Jaxon reached over, touching something off-screen. Suddenly, Jaxon disappeared and a totally different person reappeared. It looked like a man, wearing weathered black armor, accented by gold, and completely covered head to toe.

"My name," the Mando began, "Is Torian Ordo of Clan and House Ordo. This is a prerecorded message, so I am not speaking to you in person, Sabine Wren."

Sabine looked into the blank, black, T-shaped visor of the man, feeling herself growing wary.

"Clan Ordo and our allies, the Kelborns and Caderas," he continued, "have heard many rumors that there is a new Mand'alor… and that the sole ruler is none other than you. The traitorous Sabine Wren who led the Empire to Clan Kryze and had a distinct involvement in the Empire's takeover of Mandalore."

She could feel the burning gazes of the people around her, but she continued to look at Torian Ordo's visor.

"I request a meeting, with you," he said, seeming to smirk underneath his helmet. "I want to test the… liability of what these rumors claim. If you do indeed possess the Darksaber and the skill others say you do… than meet me on Dxun in two standard days or less."

Torian finally uncrossed his arms and lifted his chin challengingly, making the helmet tilt upwards

"Par kote bal ijaat be Mand'alor," the Mando leader said finally.

And then the blue hologram faded, leaving total silence in its wake. "For glory and honor of sole ruler," Sabine breathed to herself, translating Torian Ordo's words.

After a while, Fenn Rau spoke. "This is a big opportunity, Sabine Wren," he said quietly. "And I promised that I would follow you, long before any of this 'Mand'alor the Free' business happened… So I will."

Sabine looked up at him in amazement. "What'd you mean?" she sputtered.

"I know Torian Ordo," Rau continued, "And he knows me. If I were to come with you, we would have a better chance of gaining his trust and allegiance."

"But," Luc interjected, "It's going to take a lot more than a familiar face for him to get behind you, Sabi—er, Mand'alor."

"I agree," Arc added, seeming uncharacteristically quiet. "I've met Torian Ordo before. The old man is stubborn and usually levelheaded-unless the Death Watch is brought up."

Sabine stared at where the hologram had been, just moments before. Her eyes were glued to the spot as she thought furiously. She didn't want to leave Chopper Base. They'd just got there that day! It had been weeks since she'd seen Hera, and Sabine still hadn't gotten the chance to spot Kanan yet.

But Torian had given them two days until the meeting. And it would take nearly every bit of that time to get to Dxun.

Sabine suddenly felt something warm and fuzzy touch her mind and she shivered.

Ezra.

She glanced over at the seventeen year old. Sabine's time with the rest of the Ghost crew might have been very brief… but at least she had her best friend with her.

"This is going to be a challenge," Korkie said gravely. "Do you think you'll be able to handle it, Mand'alor?"

"Please," Ezra broke in exaggeratedly, coming to stand next to Sabine. "We've dodged blasterfire, sabotaged Imperial bases, and hijacked enemy ships… this? Convincing some old man to join us? No sweat."

Sabine began to smile at Ezra's easy, laid-back tone.

But Arc was frowning. "You say that now…" she growled ominously.

Sabine's eyes still stayed on Ezra. Instead of pushing his Force-probe out of her mind, she… decided to let her mental walls stay down.

"I'm with Ezra," Sabine said finally. "Me and him have been in worse and succeeded. This one is no different."

Arc shrugged finally. "You're the Mand'alor… Torian Ordo here we come."

Sabine jumped into the pilot's seat and flicked a few switches as she engaged in the rituals of pre-liftoff. Ezra took co-pilot and cracked his knuckles.

As Sabine's hand hovered over the ship's diagnostic's test, she glanced back at Fenn Rau. "You coming with?"

The older man gave her a slight smile and buckled himself into one of the seats. "Wouldn't miss it, Mand'alor!"

Sabine turned back to the ship's control panel, checking a few more buttons. "Hey, Ez," she began as she worked, "you think Hera's gonna miss us?"

Sabine didn't look at him, but heard the Padawan pause. "Probably. But she's gotta be used to one of us running off at one time or another." Ezra paused again, and then added with a grin, "Remember that self-assigned mission to Oon?"

Sabine couldn't help smiling as she continued to prepare for takeoff. "The one with that Zygerrian slave trader?"

"Yeah," Ezra confirmed. "And you let yourself get captured without telling the rest of us."

Sabine shrugged as she primed the fuel compactor. "There wasn't time," she said. "Besides, you found me didn't you?"

Ezra nodded as he gave her a lopsided grin. "Like I said," he began with a smile, "I'm with you all the way."

Sabine smiled back. Although she would miss Hera and Kanan and Zeb, and it was unfortunate she hadn't gotten to see the latter two, she had Ezra. And really… well, if he were by her then Sabine would be just fine.

"Let's get this show on the road!" Arc prompted, breaking into her thoughts. "We don't have all cycle!"

Sabine suddenly gunned the engine, thrusting the yoke forward. She heard Arc yelp and fall to the ground from the sudden movement, as the Mesh'la A'den was now flying, rocketing towards Atollon's atmosphere.

She couldn't see her cousin, but she could hear Ezra cackle as Arc shoved herself up off the floor.

"You okay, cuz?" Sabine asked innocently and felt the said person pop her upside the head.

"You're a sick human being," Arc muttered as Sabine heard her walk to the back of the ship, buckling herself into one of the seats.

"We both know," Sabine began, "that you would—and have—done the exact same thing."

"What's it like having a taste of your own medicine, Arc?" she heard Ezra ask cheekily.

And suddenly, out of nowhere, came a weathered green helmet that clocked Ezra in the back of his head. "Ow!" he exclaimed, rubbing the spot. "What'd you do that for?"

"Vaabir not jorhaa'ir meh gar liser not koor ti te gratiir," Arc muttered in Mando'a.

Sabine smiled slightly at her cousin's words as Sabine plugged in the coordinates Jaxon had forwarded.

She glanced over at Ezra to see him cross his arms. "She always pulls the Mando'a card," he muttered.

Sabine hesitated, as she got ready to engage the thrusters. "You know," she began slowly, "I could help you learn Mando'a. We've got nearly two days of being in hyperspace."

Ezra looked surprise. "You'd do that?"

Sabine frowned slightly. "Of course. With you all the way, remember?"

Arc broke in again, standing up. "We'd all be with everyone all the way to Dxun if you would just push the kriffing hyperspace throttle—"

Sabine did, sick of hearing her cousin complain about how slow she was being. Arc was thrown back again as the ship rocketed forward and the stars lengthened around them. The Mesh'la A'den made the jump into hyperspace, leaving Arc stumbling around on the floor.

"E chu ta!" Arc spat to Sabine.

Her mouth dropped. How rude! Sabine exclaimed mentally. If Hera were here, she'd have Arc's mouth washed out.

"So," Ezra said, "what did she say this time?"

"That wasn't Mando'a," Sabine muttered. "It was Huttese. And something I am definitely not going to translate for you."

Annnnd done. Welp, you guys are great for sticking this story out with me. Trust me, it's gonna get even more cooler and I appreciate every favorite and follow so much! :) Have a belated Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Specter7 out.