The Wrong Turn/Now the Right Path: Part 3
"Whoa, Stop! That is enough for today!" Kanan said loudly as he deflected another strike from Ezra. Relieved that his student Ezra deactivated his Lightsaber, returning it to his belt. "You are getting too good for me to keep up with you. Let us instead work on your sustained control and telekinesis." Kanan had come to the realization that Ezra was getting more powerful than him, both in skill and the Force. He did not know how to continue, soon he would not have the skill and knowledge himself to be Ezra's Master. A passing thought Kanan had was to somehow contact Master Yoda and have Ezra learn from him. But where would he look, the few times Master Yoda made contact was to add some little bit of wisdom or advice. So, until Kanan could figure out what to do, he was stuck trying to adequately train Ezra. "Ok, concentrate on the three Cargo Containers and lift them. Keep them up simultaneously." In the past the exercise was difficult for Ezra but know he seemed to have a better connection with the Force. His focus was stronger which made him stronger.
An hour later, Kanan sought out Hera. "I think I am in trouble." Kanan said as Hera looked at him. "Ezra has progressed beyond what I can teach him."
"When did this occur?" Hera asked sitting down across from Kanan at the table.
"I believe it was when he met the Mandalorian girl. He has gained clarity with the Force and it has increased his abilities." Kanan replied leaning back and trying to think what he could do. If Ezra progresses to fast he might slip into the Dark Side and not even realize it.
Outside Ezra glanced at his Chrono on his wrist, close enough. Jogging past the Rock Formations that jutted up, Ezra headed for Jhothal. He and Sabine were going to meet at Old Jho's and he was somewhat anxious. Without realizing it, Ezra streaked across the plains at a run. Twice the speed that he could run normally. Somehow, he had tapped into the Force and it restored him as he ran. Nearing the edge of Jhothal, he slowed down so he did not draw Imperial attention.
During the day, Sabine and Ketsu made a show of hunting for the Rebels. Poking around in different places, asking questions and even waiting at perfect attack locations. Near evening Sabine kept glancing at her Chrono. "I am going to go meet Ezra." She declared.
"I would like to meet this young man that seemed to entice you so much." Ketsu said as she followed Sabine towards the Bar.
"Sure, why not? But only to meet him right. You are not getting sneaky on me, are you?" Sabine asked worried. She had not made up her mind yet whether to fulfill the contract or be with Ezra.
"Just meet him, I swear. I want to make sure he is good enough for you." Ketsu replied as they entered the Tavern and sat at one of the tables. Taking off their helmets, Old Jho ambled over and put two mugs of ale on the table.
"He is not here yet, young one." Old Jho told Sabine as he went back to the Bar.
"So, what is he like?" Ketsu asked as she sipped the drink. Sabine started to tell her, then saw him at the door. Rising she smiled as he stepped up to her and she put her arms around him. Giving him a small kiss.
"Have you been waiting long?" Ezra asked as he held Sabine closely. Peering over at the other woman sitting at the table.
"All day, I have been wanting to see you all day." Sabine admitted. "Please sit, this is Ketsu."
"Hello Ezra. So, you are the Rebel that we have been hired to capture." Ketsu said seeing Sabine spin and stare at her in shock.
"What? You are a Bounty Hunter?" Ezra pulled away from Sabine, his expression changed to disbelief and betrayal. His hand moved down to his weapon hung on his belt.
Sabine saw his hand lower to the odd weapon on his belt. "Wait, Ezra I swear I am not trying to get close to you so that I can capture you. I like you. Ketsu how could you do this!" Sabine asked sadly, feeling just as betrayed as Ezra must feel. "You promised."
"Sabine, it is what we are. We are Bounty Hunters and he has a very large Bounty on him. Too large to just let it go. Now are you with me?" Ketsu pointed her blaster at Ezra and smiled. "Do not move Ezra, I have set this on heavy stun but I rather you just walk out of here. You look kind of heavy for us to carry."
"Ketsu do not do this, please." Sabine begged her friend as she stepped in front of Ezra blocking Ketsu's shot.
"Ah, Sabine. It is the best solution. Once he is gone then you will not be thinking about him anymore and we can get back to business. Now move!" Standing slowly, Ketsu waved her blaster indicating for Sabine to get out of the line of fire. Then something happened that shocked her.
When Ketsu moved the Blaster from being able to shoot either him or Sabine, Ezra reacted. Using the Force, he pulled the Blaster right out of her hand. Tossing it across the room at an accelerated pace. Smashing it into a nearby wall with a crunch. Drawing his own weapon and pointing it at Ketsu. "Do not move!" Ezra ordered as he moved around Sabine and kept his weapon pointed at Ketsu. "I am leaving." Looking over at Sabine. "Are you coming with me, Sabine?"
Sabine looked at Ketsu, then at Ezra. She was torn, Ketsu was like her sister. But Ezra was her future and she wanted to be with him. She initially hoped that Ketsu would have trusted her to believe that Sabine wanted to be with Ezra. The decision was easy. "I am coming with you." She said barely audible. "I am sorry Ketsu, I have to follow my destiny and it is with him. I hope you will understand." As they moved towards the door Ketsu stood and glared at them.
"You are a fool, little sister! Throwing away two years of friendship and partnership for what him!" Ketsu said angrily as she stalked towards them.
"I am sorry Ketsu, goodbye." Sabine pulled her blaster and stunned her friend. "Ok, let's go. Maybe later you can tell me how you did that with her blaster."
Outside at the Speeder Bikes, Sabine popped out the locator and looked over at Ezra. "Get on." She ordered getting on the Bike.
"Wait, are you sure? I mean you still have a choice. Once you come with me it is most likely that you will be wanted by the Empire as well." Ezra stood holding his strange weapon in his hand.
"I am sure, a strange voice told me that you are my future, my destiny and I need to be with you." Sabine said as Ezra climbed on behind her, putting his arms around her. "Hold on tight." Feeling him tighten his grip as she started the Bike and began to leave. Four Stormtroopers rounded the corner and raised their Blasters.
"Stop, identify yourself." One in the lead ordered leveling his Blaster at them.
Before Sabine could react, Ezra bounded from behind her. She stared as his strange weapon suddenly sprung out a Lightsaber. Landing amongst them, he stabbed the lead Stormtrooper in the chest, spun the Lightsaber around and cut down two others and finally decapitated the last one. All four were dead in a matter of seconds. Turning back towards her, Sabine's eyes widened. "You are a Jedi!" She stammered out.
"Yes, I am a Jedi. Does that change anything?" Ezra asked as he deactivated his Lightsaber walking towards her.
"No, get on." Sabine felt his arms around her again and she liked it. As he put his head on her shoulder she turned her head and kissed his cheek. "I have made my choice, I want to be with you." Racing out of town, Sabine smiled. She felt free.
Ketsu awoke and frowned. She had blown it. She wanted Sabine to realize the error and be what she was meant to be. A Bounty Hunter. None of the customers or even the Bartender said a word as she stood and walked out of the Tavern. Glancing around she saw the Stormtroopers lying dead where a lone Speeder Bike sat. Her Bike, Sabine's was gone. Going to her Bike she checked the Locator on the other Bike and shook her head. Of course, Sabine had deactivated the other Locator so it would not be easy to find either Sabine or Ezra. Smirking Ketsu went back on the Hunt.
"Head for the Tower, we need to talk." Ezra said as he pointed to the old Communication Tower straight ahead. Hiding the Bike behind the Tower, Ezra led Sabine inside. Holding hands with their fingers intertwined. Taking her up to the Balcony and inside his hideaway.
"You said earlier that a voice told you that I was your future, your destiny." Ezra said as he sat down and Sabine sat next to him.
"Yes, it was strange it said; "Future he is, to you he will be." Then later after I met you, it told me "Future you have found, courage must have." I believe that it is you. After I met you everything in my life had become clear."
"Did the voice sound gravelly small compared to others." Ezra asked thinking it was Master Yoda.
"Yes, how did you know?" Sabine asked gazing once again into those clear blue eyes as he smiled. She liked his smile it made her feel good.
"I believe it was Master Yoda, he spoke to me as well with almost the same words. I think we are destined to be together." Ezra said as he squeezed her hand.
For several hours they talked, about themselves. Their pasts, everything that they had not told each other before. Sabine felt even closer to Ezra, as she leaned forward and kissed him. She experienced the same feelings as she did before. She could not say it but she felt it, she loved him. "We should get going, we still have to do the hard part. Introduce you to the others." Ezra said as he attempted to stand, Sabine shook her head.
"No, not yet. There is something we need to do first." Leaning closer she kissed him, this time all restraints were off. Within minutes both were almost ripping each-others clothes off. The first time was quick and unsatisfying, the second was better and after that both thoroughly enjoyed it. "I needed that." Sabine stated breathing hard as she cuddled up with Ezra.
"I am not sure we should have done that." Ezra said with some concern that they might have rushed into a physical relationship.
"Ezra, I wanted to have sex. All five times. It just solidifies that we belong together. That we are destined to be together. No matter what happens now I finally feel like my soul is lifted from the darkness." Sabine quite did not know how to explain it, for the last two years she felt that she was walking in the shadow of evil. Working for the Empire after what they did to her. Making her create weapons to use against her people, some depraved Imperial that raped her and then hunting down Rebels. But with Ezra it made her feel whole again.
"I feel the same, you have made my connection to the Force stronger." He replied as he looked around his tower. "We better find our clothes and get going, by now the others will be worried and last time I was late they really chewed me out." Seeing her expression. "What's wrong?"
"I guess, I am worried. What I did is well known, I hunted Rebels and turned them over to the Empire. I have a lot to make up for." Sabine reached down and found her body suit. As Ezra searched for his own clothes. Soon limping around the small room looking for his right boot.
"Where the High Desert is he?" Hera asked as she looked out across the plains. Worry etched her face as she glanced over at Kanan. "It is way past the time he should have come back!"
"Ezra is stubborn, opinionated and adventurous. He is also a Jedi, he will come back soon." Kanan notified her as her Lekku quivered with frustration. "The question is will he come back alone. If he is destined to be with this Mandalorian Girl then he might be bringing her here."
"What are we going to do? What if they are you know, having sex? They both are probably too young to have that type of relationship." Hera said as she exhaled, not that she would restrict them. After all, she and Kanan were sexually active. They were not much older than Ezra when they started to have sex. To them it was something to remind themselves that they were alive and if they fell fighting the Empire then they would have that to remember the other. The times together, where they were not Rebels but a Twil'ek Woman and a Human Man that cared for each other. Neither had professed love, but she did feel it for him.
"So, the kid is late again." Zeb said as he walked up behind them. Seeing the expressions on their faces turned and headed back towards the ship. Muttering. "Perhaps I will clean the Hyperdrive Exhaust." As he passed a Crate. "Should we throw these out, since we can't get them to work." Zeb asked as he gestured to a Crate of H.E. Mark 12 Thermal Detonators, that for some reason all twenty of them did not work.
"No, perhaps we can trade them to Vizago for some intel." Kanan said as Zeb shook his head.
"I doubt he would, not for non-functioning Explosives." Zeb felt like kicking the Crate, he had grabbed it on one of their Cargo raids instead of a Military Weapons Upgrade. Now he regretted that.
When Ezra walked up to the hiding place with his hand intertwined with Sabine's he felt subconscious. Especially with the glare that Hera was giving him,
"It is about time you came back!" Hera said angrily. "I suppose this is the one that you have told us about. Hera Syndulla." As she thrust out her hand at the young Mandalorian girl, who took it and shook it.
"Sabine Wren of the clan Vizsla." Sabine introduced herself and saw the other Human Man wince.
"Death Watch." Kanan almost whispered as he looked at Sabine.
"That is my Mother and currently I am ouster-sized from my Clan and Family." Sabine told the man as he exhaled and extended his hand.
"I am Kanan Jarrus. Welcome Sabine Wren." Pointing behind him he gestured to the Lasat that was covering them with his Bow-rifle. "That is Zeb. Oh, and the Droid there is Chopper." Kanan glared at Ezra. "Can you excuse us for a minute, I need to speak with Ezra."
"Alright, I will go and introduce myself to Zeb then." Sabine released Ezra's hand and walked over to the Lasat. Looking at the Crate of Explosives. "H.E. Mark 12's?" She inquired to the Lasat.
"Yes, but they are non-functional." Zeb told her as he watched the girl closely. Wanting to protest as she reached into the Crate and pulled one out. Taking it apart with confident ease, pulling a blue wire out and tossing it.
"Do you have any Grade Four Syntho Wire?" She asked as Zeb opened a repair kit and handed a small length of wire to her. Then watched her with interest as she used her teeth to pull the coated ends off two ends of the wire and put it where the other wire was. Then put it back together, handing it to Zeb. "It should work now."
Zeb flipped a switch and a green light came on, then he turned it off.
"The Mark 12's has a glitch, when the manufacturer put them together they put in substandard arming wire, if you replace it they will work." Sabine informed him as she shrugged her shoulders. Then gazed over to at least watch the heated exchange between Ezra and the two others.
"How could you bring her here without asking us first?" Hera asked as her Lekku shuddered.
"I did not think I had to, if I say she is alright then that should be enough." Ezra replied defensively. "She is the one from the vision, the one Master Yoda told me is my future. Also by the way, Master Yoda spoke to her too."
"I say we trust Ezra." Kanan said from the side. "There is something going on here that cannot be explained and with the increase of his connection to the Force there has to be a reason. Perhaps this Sabine Wren is that reason."
"Fine, but I want her watched and we have to clear her through Commander Sato." Hera said then stomped away. Her Lekku was thrashing around in rage and frustration.
"Let us find her a room, perhaps you can move in with Zeb?" Kanan suggested as he saw Ezra shake his head.
"No, she will be moving in with me." Ezra walked over to Sabine and was pleasantly surprised to see Zeb warming up to her. As they talked about explosives and weapons. Putting his arm around her, she did the same. "It is all set, come on I will show you to your room."
"You mean our room, right." Sabine stated as she smiled at Ezra. They were together now and she was not about to be separated from him, especially at night.
"I did not want to presume. But yes, our room." Ezra led her inside the ship and seeing Hera stare at them ready to protest but decided not to bother, he took Sabine to their room. He knew that Hera and Kanan were going to have a lengthy discussion about that.
Ketsu felt frustrated, Sabine was too well trained in the hunt. Ketsu knew that Sabine knew all the tricks so Ketsu could not find her or Ezra. Ketsu had found the abandoned Speeder Bike just before dawn. She felt like throwing a Detonator on it and blowing it into atoms. Especially finding it just on the outskirts of Jhothal. What bothered Ketsu is how easily Sabine had chosen Ezra over her. Returning to the Tavern she had one more option, question the Itholian. There was nothing else she could do.