Howdy, Specter7 here. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Valentines Day, and all the other holidays I missed XD Sorry if I haven't answered your reviews you guys posted on my fic. I've been crazy busy lately but I promise I read all your reviews and greatly appreciate them! We're about three quarters of the way through with this story and I've already written the rest, its merely a matter of facing the demon known as editing.

May the manda be with you.

The New Mand'alor: Chapter 14: A Gritty Resolve

"Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them."

-Washington Irving

Ezra had begun to really hate Mandalorians.

They were so… fickle. Their moods shifted at the drop of a hat. Like whenever they were at the Death Watch camp, for example. One moment, Arc Wren was declaring a battle to the death with Sabine and in the next, she was playing bolo-ball with them like one big happy family. Even on Dxun— Torian Ordo was acting like a grumpy old man and an hour later he was declaring Sabine the sole ruler and junk.

And just a few hours ago, Ezra and the others had helped Bo-Katan and her Nite Owls fight those Imperial Mandalorians. Yet whoop-di-doo! Another surprise; Bo-Katan's men had cuffed Ezra almost immediately after the firefight and split him up from Sabine despite his most avid protests.

Ezra twisted his wrists in the electro-cuffs and grimaced. The blue-armored guards leading him down the dark tunnel stayed silent.

"Look," Ezra said, on his last thread of patience. "You guys are with Bo-Katan, right? Sabine mentioned her to me."

Neither looked over.

"Sabine?" Ezra persisted. "Sabine Wren? Clan Wren, House Vizsla? Ring any bells?" He paused a beat. They didn't respond and Ezra really wanted to Force-strangle some people right now. "She's Death Watch," Ezra snapped, "or, er, her mother was. Anyway, Sabine's mom and Bo-Katan worked together or something and you guys are supposed to give us free entry. No trouble."

Again, no response.

Ezra was growing increasingly frustrated but forced himself to breathe. Remember Kanan's teachings, he chided himself. Breathe. Meditate. Let the Force flow through you.

Ezra sighed, closing his eyes. He let his captors lead him along the dark, wet, dank tunnel. He listened to the sound of his boots squeaking on the wet floor. He felt the rough grips on the Mandalorians' gloves tighten on his biceps. He smelled the sickly sweet scent of sweat off his captors.

Ezra let himself grow in tune with the armored Mandalorians' Force-signatures. Unlike Sabine's, their's were dull and pale. Discipline and rigidness radiated off of them. That's Mandalorians for ya, he thought to himself.

It was nice to openly meditate without Sabine giving him the evil eye or kicking his shins. It… grounded him. Put everything into perspective. Settled his racing thoughts and spiking blood pressure.

Ezra knit his brows over closed eyes. He could sense something. Up ahead. The tunnel opened up into…

"Wake up," one of his guards said gruffly, shaking Ezra. "We're here."

The other guard entered a password into a hidden console on the doorframe and the automatic doors slid open. Ezra gaped.

It was a giant underground cavity, thick with Mandalorians. There was a missions briefing table in the middle surrounded by important-looking leaders arguing back and forth. Metal beams held the dirt-packed ceiling up, and the buzz of midday traffic vibrated the ground underneath Ezra's feet.

"We're directly under Sundari," Ezra realized.

A guard shoved him forward. "Keep moving."

Ezra looking around frantically for Sabine or any familiar face—anyone to get him out of this mess. Except his searching eyes found the one face he didn't want to see.

"Hey, Ezra," Luc said calmly, walking through the sea of armored Mandalorians. "I was looking for you."

Wish I could say the same, Ezra grumbled to himself. Instead, he said, "Where's Sabine?" Luc opened his mouth to respond but Ezra did a double-take. "Wait, why are you not in cuffs?"

Luc grinned devilishly and shrugged. "I make friends quick." He glanced at the guards. "Let him go. I can take it from here."

The Mandalorians holding Ezra barely responded. "We have orders to take the outsider to an interrogation room," one monotoned. "Your command is overruled by Lady Bo-Katan, Informant Tenau."

Ezra frowned. "Informant?"

"Where is she, anyway?" Luc said, ignoring Ezra.

"The same place we're taking this one," the guard replied. "You may come along."

"Wait, wait, wait—" Ezra said, "Luc, do you… you work for Bo-Katan?! That's how you knew she was Arc's contact in Sundari!"

Luc shot him a mischievous look. "Don't be ridiculous, Ezra. I would never be so two-faced."

As soon as his head turned back around, Ezra made a face at his back. "I would never be so two-faced," Ezra mocked to himself. I'm Luc, look at my beautiful golden locks and rippling—

"Here," a guard said. Another door opened, revealing a pocket separate from the main cavity, and they stepped inside.

It took Ezra a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. And when they did, his face broke out in a smile. "Sabine!"

She turned to face him and gave him a tired smile. "Ez."

She's okay, Ezra thought, his shoulders slumping. The Mandalorians didn't hurt her. Two weeks in and he still wasn't used to seeing Sabine out of her usual armor. She stuck out like a sore thumb now, among the armor-clad guards in the room, with her charcoal-colored top and navy, synth-leather pants.

He could see the same kind of relief on Sabine's face as she came to stand next to him. "You're here," she sighed. "Finally." Sabine looked down at Ezra's wrists, finding them tied together by a beam of plasma. "Electro-cuffs? Seriously? Guards, release him."

Ezra looked around the room. Besides his two guards and four others, there was a red-haired woman that Ezra had seen talking to Sabine earlier. Her green eyes were cold and calculating. They darted Ezra over. Finally she waved her hand and the guards released the cuffs.

Ezra rubbed his raw wrists, taking everything into account. Judging by the lady's stern Force-signature, this could go south easy. Okay, between Ezra, Sabine, and Luc, they had one blaster—maybe. Not good odds.

"Who's this?" The lady said, looking to him. Despite her bravado, she sounded tired. War-weary. "Another of your accomplices, Wren?"

"I'm Ezra," he said. "I'm guessing you already know Luc. We're with Sabine and we demand a hearing."

She shot a glare over Ezra's shoulder at someone behind him. "Luc? You're in league with these two?"

Luc laughed nervously. ""In league" is more a label, milady. I prefer the term… blackmailed by Arc Wren and dragged into this."

"Ah." She turned to Ezra. "You, boy. Do you know of your friend's crimes against Mandalore?"

"Oh, yeah," Ezra said immediately, beginning to list things off his fingers. "He's annoying, self-centered, egotistical, sadistic—"

"Not Luc, fool. The one you call Sabine Wren."

"Oh. No. Wait, is this about the weapon-killing-everyone thing? Because she can explain—"

"She's explained enough. I've heard her side. The excuses, the speech to join her. I want to know more about her cohorts, though." The redhead narrowed her eyes. "What's your house, boy?"

Ezra stared at her. "House?"

"Your Mandalorian house. Your clan's political standpoint? You must not be very bright—"

"House Ordo," Ezra interrupted, ignoring Luc and Sabine's stares. "What's your house?"

The redhead lifted her chin. "I am Bo-Katan Kryze of Clan and House Kryze. I have brought you here to find out just how deep you are in league with this… this traitor, Ezra."

"She's not a traitor. I trust Sabine with my life—I have for years—"

"—You know Sabine Wren personally? A member of House Order?"

Ezra tilted his head. "Yeah…"

Bo-Katan took a step closer to him. "House Ordo is one the most esteemed houses of our entire culture," she growled. "I'm sure Torian Ordo wouldn't taint his royal name by associating with the likes of a dar'manda snake as Sabine Wren—"

Sabine stepped in between them. "You dare insult my honor?"

Bo-Katan's hackles raised and Ezra quickly pulled Sabine back. "Calm down," Ezra muttered into her ear. "We're outgunned and outnumbered. You don't want to start a fight in this place."

Stupid Mandos, Ezra cursed mentally. Apparently Bo-Katan's not any different from the rest of them. But… it's my duty as a Jedi to rise above that aggression that Mandalorians love.

…Or, that's what Kanan keeps telling me, anyway.

Ezra subtly unballed Sabine's fist in a nonverbal gesture to stand down. Sabine's not like them, Ezra thought. Why can't Arc and Luc and Bo-Katan take a few lessons from her? Sabine calmed underneath his touch and Ezra watched as she finally unclenched her hands.

Bo-Katan snorted and brushed invisible dirt off of her shoulder. "As I was saying, Torian Ordo must not know of your siding with this so-called Mand'alor. He would never stand for it."

It was Sabine who spoke. "He would, actually. Torian Ordo has already pledged allegiance to me."

Bo-Katan frowned. "Lies."

"Feel free to call him. Or Clan Cadera, Clan Kelborn, the Protectors of Concord Dawn—or even Arc Wren and the Death Watch. I'm recruiting, Lady Bo-Katan. We could use you too."

"Don't," Bo-Katan said, holding up a hand, "start again. You gave me your speech already. I'm here for the boy."

Ezra crossed his arms. Wow, someone actually wants to listen to me, he thought to himself. "What do you want?"

"Sabine Wren is not the first to proclaim herself Mand'alor. I've heard the heartfelt pleadings, the rousing speeches, and the empty promises from numerous people. But each time, they have no claim to the position and they fail. Assassinated by their "followers" or imprisoned and executed by Imperials.

"If you are truly as sold-out to the new Mand'alor as you claim, then prove it. Are you willing to die for it?"

Ezra balled his hands into fists and he watched the guards grow restless. "Is that a threat?"

Bo-Katan's expression remained unreadable. "Not unless you make it one."

Ezra narrowed his eyes. He had to play this right. One wrong word and she could order her men to gun them down. Sabine's campaign would be over before it had begun. I have to convince her to join Sabine. We need Bo-Katan.

"Fine," he relented. "Where do you want me to start?"

Bo-Katan pulled up a chair and crossed her legs. "From the beginning."

Ezra sat in his own and knit his fingers. "I met Sabine about four years ago. She was the only Mandalorian on the crew and I had intercepted one of their shipments. Long story short, I got recruited and started living on the ship; a VCX-100 light freighter. Sabine was just a graffiti artist at the time."

Bo-Katan leaned forward. "And you two were close?"

Ezra thought back to all the the pranks that were pulled; like Sabine and him sneaking away to spray paint that stolen TIE fighter. That feels like a lifetime ago, he thought to himself. Were we really that carefree?

"You could say that," Ezra said eventually.

"When did all this "Mand'alor the Free" business begin?"

He thought hard. "Not until Dathomir. There was a… side job on an Outer Rim planet. Sabine found the Darksaber in one of the tunnels."

Bo-Katan's eyes rounded. "The Darksaber?"

Sabine answered by igniting the blade, washing the room in milky light. She waved the blade a little and it hummed with energy.

Bo-Katan looked to her. "You never mentioned you had the Darksaber."

Sabine sheathed her weapon. "Would it have made any difference?"

"The real question," Ezra interrupted, "is should it? A blade isn't the judge on whether or not someone can handle leadership. Sabine is worthy because of where's she's come from and what she's risen above."

The redhead settled back in her seat. "Expound."

"Sabine didn't want the Darksaber. But Kanan and Hera convinced—"

"Who?"

"The leaders of our crew. They wanted Sabine to recruit Mandalorian warriors to the Rebellion using the Darksaber. Except…" Ezra rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, recruiting Mandalorians for the Rebellion turned into launching a full-out campaign and Arc Wren declaring Sabine the Mand'alor after a duel to the death over the Darksaber."

Bo-Katan pinched the bridge of her nose. "Arc Wren. Her name keeps popping up. Where is the little she-devil anyway?"

"Concordia," Luc announced. "Recruiting the Mandalorians there."

"Too scared to show her face. Look, Ezra, I'm a busy woman. I've been orchestrating raids and incursions since before you were born and I need more than a speech to convince me to lend my forces. Why should I help you?"

Ezra met her eyes. "Because we need it. Bo-Katan, you're the only one who can help us capture Sundari. You want to get out from the Empire's thumb, don't you? If we both work together, we might actually stand a chance of stopping them."

Bo-Katan sighed. She looked past Ezra to Sabine. "The people will follow you because of that blade. I suppose you earned the rights to it after your duel with your cousin?"

"Yes," Sabine said. "And I'm keeping it."

"The trick isn't keeping the blade; it's keeping your head. People will challenge you for it—if they haven't already."

"I'm aware. Listen, Bo-Katan, we need an answer. We're liberating Sundari with or without you, but we might actually stand a chance of winning if you come with. So are you in or out?"

Bo-Katan hesitated.

Ezra tried to stretch out with the Force to Bo-Katan's mind, to try to sense anything the lady was feeling, but he immediately hit a mental wall.

The door suddenly slid opened and two more guards walked in and saluted.

"What?" Bo-Katan said, sounding annoyed.

"We found another rebel, ma'am."

She looked to Sabine. "One of your friends?"

Sabine tilted her head. "You know him."

It took a second for Ezra to realize what Sabine was saying. Kor, Ezra thought suddenly. I totally forgot about him. He's Bo-Katan's nephew, right?

Kor pushed his way to the front, shrugging off the grips of his captors. "You'll regret this," he was spatting to them. "I told you my aunt is your—" He cut himself off when he saw her. "Leader."

Bo-Katan looked like a Loth-cat caught in headlights. Green eyes round, her lips moved and sound barely escaped them. "Korkie?"

A smile touched Kor's lips. "Hey Auntie Bo."

"You're alive? When I didn't hear from you after the Empire burned our clan to the ground... I assumed the worse."

Kor rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry I didn't write. I've… been busy. Look, I knew you'd have trouble believing in the new Mand'alor but you have to listen; you're in grave danger."

Bo-Katan straightened and Ezra could almost see her vulnerability fade away. "How so?"

"Once the Empire knows Sabine is here, they'll crack down on security. If we strike first with the element of surprise, we might have a shot at seizing Sundari. From there, we'll take back over the other Mandalorian worlds."

Bo-Katan was silent and Ezra was on the edge of his seat, waiting for her response. Seconds ticked by as the tension thickened.

Bo-Katan's eyes flicked to Sabine. She appeared conflicted. "I… I'm uncertain—"

"Lady Kryze," Sabine interrupted. "You're already enslaved. You've lost your freedom. What else do you have to lose?"

She paused. "My life, but when has that ever stopped me before… Alright, Clan Kryze will forge a temporary alliance with the new Mand'alor. But we reserve the rights to back out at any point in time."

Ezra's shoulders slumped and he offered a quick thanks to the Force.

He could hear the relief in Sabine's voice. "Great."

"But there will be conditions. You will stay within the walls of my jurisdiction while in Sundari. You will be confined to the tunnels and to the building directly above us—you can each have your own suite, but you will not go outside. It's for your safety as much as it is the safety of Clan Kryze."

Ezra crossed his arms. "So we're prisoners."

"Guests with restrictions," Bo-Katan corrected.

Luc came to stand in front of Ezra and Sabine, bowing slightly. "Thank you, milady. We are indebted to you." Behind him, his hands groped for Sabine and Ezra, and he began to lead them out the door. Bo-Katan's searing gaze followed them.

The door slid shut and Luc sighed. "That was close."

Ezra sneered. "You're such a suck-up."

"And if I didn't know any better, you two were trying to doom us. Is that what you call diplomacy?"

Sabine separated them and pushed them both away. "Both of you shut up. You're giving me a headache."

Her gaze was stony and she stormed off without another word, slipping into the crowd of Mandalorians. Ezra watched her go.

"What's her problem?" Luc said.

Ezra didn't answer and went to follow her. She walked down a narrow tunnel and Ezra called after her. His voice bounced off the walls. She didn't respond.

"Hey," Ezra said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "What's up?"

Sabine shrugged him off. "Not now, Ezra."

"Was it Bo-Katan? You did fine, Sabine. She's gonna join us now."

"No, that was you. You convinced her. She wanted your opinion. She heard my entire speech and didn't even acknowledge it."

Ezra blinked. Well, that had been before he'd gotten there. But if it was anything like her other speeches, he knew it was good. "You can't please everyone, Bean. She's obviously got issues. You can't pin all of them on yourself."

Sabine rubbed her arms and looked away. "I know."

Ezra took her hand and made her meet his eyes. "I'm sure you did great."

"It's… not just that."

Ezra waited, watching her bite her lip and gather her words together.

"Something happened during the graduation of those Imperial cadets. One of my oldest friends had been on that stage. Bo-Katan killed him."

Ezra's eyes widened. "What?"

Sabine hugged herself. "His name was Daalor. I thought he was dead, though— I thought my weapon killed him six years ago. So imagine my surprise when he shows up on that stage with the rest of my graduating class."

The Force tingled around him and Ezra started. He suddenly realized that something had shifted in Sabine's Force-signature. It was still warm and bright and expressive, but something had changed. No, not changed. Developed. Sabine seemed less tightly wound. More free. As if, she had figured out who she was and it had released her from some sort of… of inner bondage. There was a gritty resolve in her Force-signature that had not been there before.

"What changed?" Ezra asked Sabine aloud.

"Hmm?"

"You seem… different." Ezra hesitated. "Ever since Bo-Katan captured us at the Imperial Graduation you've changed. I don't know how to describe it, but your Force-signature has become… well, settled, sort of. Like you know who you are."

A faint smile kissed Sabine's lips. "I made a decision on that stage, Ezra. I realized that no matter what Daalor thinks or Bo-Katan or any of them… I know that I'm doing the right thing. I couldn't save Daalor, but I know I can save the rest of my people. That's why we have to succeed, Ezra. Gar Saxon has to be brought down. There's not an alternative."

Something swelled in his chest. Ezra thought it was pride but he couldn't be sure.

Sabine looked away again. "And I've been thinking, Ezra."

He grinned. "Uh-oh. That's never a good sign."

"Shut up. Look, things are about to get crazy here. In the next few weeks, there'll be raids and recruitments and speeches." She paused. "It'll be dangerous."

"Never stopped us before."

"And this isn't about the Rebellion anymore, Ezra. It's transpired into something different. I'm not recruiting the Mandalorians for Hera or Sato. I'm recruiting them for Mand'alor the Free. We're going to liberate Mandalore."

"I know."

"And… I can't ask you to stay here."

Ezra stared at her. He must've misheard her. "What?"

"You're an agent of the Rebellion, Ezra. You're here on direct orders from Hera. I'm disobeying her but I can't ask you to too. Go back to them. Go back to the Rebellion and report what's happened. You're Lieutenant Commander now, remember?"

He was too shocked to speak for a long moment. When he did speak, it rushed out of him like a faucet. "You're crazy," he sputtered. "I—I'm not here because of the Rebellion! I'm here because of you."

Sabine stared at him, mouth parted.

"I'm with you all the way, remember? I don't give a kriff about that Lieutenant Commander title."

Her eyes were wide. Ezra watched them grow glassy. "Really?"

"Of course," he said. Feeling brave, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. Sabine hugged him tight and he could sense the relief roll off of her in waves. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, making him shiver.

"Thank you," she whispered. Her breath tickled his ear.

Ezra planted a gentle kiss on her head, committing everything to memory. The smell of her hair, the rise and fall of her chest against his, the grip of her fingertips against his back, everything.

Ezra felt something intense and fiery work in his gut. His fierce protection for Sabine seemed to double and he pulled her closer, resting his forehead on hers.

I swear I'll never let anything happen to you, Ezra promised, closing his eyes. I swear.