The end scene here was inspired by something from a "Rebel Force" book. Also, we meet Sabine. And she is a boss!
But even though Captain Syndulla never worked with the same person twice, that would not be the last time the Rebels saw her.
Hera stalked down the ship's gray corridors, cursing under her breath. "Freakin' outlanders," She muttered. She just wanted to get off this ship. "What a bunch of-" She and Chopper turned down a corner, only to find someone blocking her ship's airlock.
It was a girl. Human, maybe fifteen or sixteen wearing multi-colored Mandalorian armor across her chest and waist. She wore a form-fitting, high-necked, black shirt with long sleeves under the armor and tan pants with two holstered blaster pistols at her hips. She had pads of armor strapped to her thighs, knees, elbows, biceps, and forearms along with two shoulder shields, the left one painted bright yellow and having an orange wolf insignia, while the right one consisted of a black and white checkered pattern. She wore armored knee-high boots with repulsor jets attached to the sides, and a brown utility belt stocked with thermal detonators, paint canisters, ammunition chips, an airbrush, and several other types of weapons. Finally, she wore a helmet, so Hera couldn't see the girl's face, but she recognized the armor.
Sabine Wren, notorious Bounty Hunter. She had a fearsome reputation for never leaving a job unfinished.
"Captain Syndulla," She said, stepping forward. Even though she was substantially shorter than Hera, the Twi'lek still backed down. "I've got a new job, and I need a fast ship. Plus, I've heard you're the best star pilot in The Outer Rim."
Hera crossed her arms. "Where is this going?" She asked, her lekku twitching in impatience.
The next reply was simple, almost unemotional. "I want you to help me with my next job."
Hera raised an eyebrow. "What's in it for me?"
The girl took another step forward, forcing Hera to step back. She looked up at Hera, and Hera could almost imagine the icy cold amber eyes beneath the helmet. "Not getting shot." Her fingers twitched towards one of her two blaster pistols, fully locked and loaded, ready to kill.
Hera glared at the girl. If it was anyone else, she would've known they needed her and demanded credits, but she knew Wren, and she knew if she refused, the girl would simply shoot her and find another person. "Fine." She didn't like this.
Though her face was covered, Hera could tell Wren was smiling. "Good choice." She said. "Let's go."
Kallus had his hand open, examining the credits he held. He looked up at Tua. "You know, if we went down to Old Jho's bar, we could double or triple this." He smiled.
Tua's face was hard. "We're not gambling." She said flatly.
His smile faded into a frown. "Oh, c'mon, Maketh. We haven't been to Old Jho's bar in so long."
Tua frowned. She, too, missed old Jho's bar. She loved sipping warm Meilooran tea in a dark booth while Kallus played sabaac and the Inquisitor chatted with Old Jho.
"Let's ask the Inquisitor first." She said though she couldn't keep the smile out of her voice.
The Inquisitor wasn't very enthusiastic about going to the bar, either, but agreed it would be a good way for the crew to catch a break. So they headed back to Lothal.
The bar was the same as always. Dimly-lit, full of all species, both organic and droid. Like always, Tua ordered a Meilooran tea, which was ready in nearly thirty seconds flat. Then she headed into a booth in the back, on the far wall. She watched as Kallus headed to a game of Sabaac while the Inquisitor talked to Old Jho, the Ithorian bartender, about machinery or something.
Kallus pulled a chair up to a table where a Gotal was dealing cards. He ignored the irritated stares he got from some players, being the only human at the table. He looked around at every being at the table while he picked up his hand of cards. Two Rodians, one Gotal, a Duros, a Dug, a Nautolan, and a Lasat. Strange. He was sure the Lasats were all but extinct. The Empire had seen to that.
He looked down at his hand of cards and smiled. He was set up to win.
"I don't get it, Jho." The Inquisitor said to the bartender. "The Phoenix is pulling a bit to the right, but the diagnostics say nothing of the sort." He took a swig of the caf in his glass.
"Maybe the system needs to be repaired." Jho shrugged.
The Inquisitor was about to ask if there were any mechanics in the area, but he never got the chance. Something was wrong. He could feel it.
He looked at the door just as a young girl in Mandalorian armour walked in. Her helmet was tucked under her right arm, and her face was showing. He recognized that face immediately.
Blast it!
Sabine Wren. The only reason a Bounty Hunter as lethal as her would be in a joint like this would be because of a job.
And three highly-wanted Rebels just happened to be patrons in this bar.
Almost every other player had bowed out of the game, leaving only Kallus and the Lasat, Orellios, as he had introduced himself. He smirked, throwing his final credits into the pile. The Lasat did the same.
It was the final play. He placed down the winning combination wordlessly. But the Lasat just smirked. He saw the Lasat slip a card out of his sleeve. He threw down an Idiot's Array.
"I win," He said.
Kallus glared, outraged. "I saw that! You cheated!"
The Lasat leaned across the table, growling. "What proof you got, outlander?"
Kallus was rearing back to give the creature a well-deserved - but not very well thought-out punch in the face, but the Inquisitor was suddenly at the table with Tua.
"We have to leave." He said. "Now."
Kallus reluctantly stood up. He pointed a finger at the Lasat. "We'll settle this later, Orellios!"
The creature was smug. "Fine by me."
"What was that all about?" Kallus asked once they were out of the bar. "I just lost all our earnings!"
Tua smacked him on the arm. "I told you gambling was a bad idea!"
"Listen," The Inquisitor called their attention. "There was a Bounty Hunter in there, Sabine Wren." He let the name hang in the air for a moment. "And if we don't get out of here soon, we're all going to die."
Tua was locked in stunned silence, but Kallus was quick to react, as always. "Then we better get back to the..." Kallus trailed off, an uneasy expression taking his face. "I've got a bad feeling about..." Without warning, he dropped to the ground, unconscious.
The Inquisitor knelt down to examine Kallus. He found a dart, no bigger than a sewing needle, sticking out of his bicep. "Just a tranquilizer dart." He explained. "He's not dead- wait, a tranquilizer dart?!"
The next thing he knew, Tua toppled over, landing on Kallus. A similar dart stuck out of the back of her neck.
Duck! The command seemed to come from within. He obeyed, just as another dart flew by. He scanned for a sniper, but barely a moment later, another command came. Left! Then Right!
He was about to run when he heard a someone drop down behind him. "You're a quick one." A sassy, filtered female voice came from the direction of the noise.
He whirled around and found himself face-to-face with the Mandalorian face-mask he dreaded would be there.
"But not quick enough."
She raised a compact version of a sniper rifle, loaded with a tranquilizer dart, and before the Inquisitor could do anything, she pulled the trigger. The dart landed in the fleshy skin just below his shoulder, burying itself up to the needle. The next thing he knew, his legs gave out, and he dropped to the ground, next to his friends, vision hazy, his grasp on reality slipping away.
Wren leaned over him, waving lightly. "Sweet dreams," She said in an angelic voice.
Then darkness came.