The Day of Disaster/Day of Hope: Part 4
Handing Ezra his Lightsaber, Sabine turned on a Practice Remote. "Now I set it to Level 1, just try to block the stinger bolts." Tossing the Remote into the air, Ezra slowly activated his Lightsaber and took a somewhat fighting stance. He was unsteady and not sure what to do. She had decided this would be the best test to see if he retained any of his Combat training that Kanan had instilled in him. The gray colored remote hovered then shifted, Ezra followed the movements. When it shot a stinger bolt he was too slow and it hit him in the left thigh.
"Ouch that hurt." Ezra stated as he waited for the Remote to continue. As it fired another Ezra blocked it, which gave him a sense of accomplishment. As it fired several more shots Ezra blocked each one with ease. Of course, at that level Sabine could do the same.
"Good, I am going to turn it to a higher level." Sabine stated as she meant to push Level 2 but instead hit Level 9. Before she could change it the Remote started firing and Ezra blocked every shot, without pausing. His eyes were semi closed as he parried the shots without even knowing how he was doing it. When the timer went off he looked at Sabine then turned off the Lightsaber and dropped it. "What is wrong?"
"That was weird, it was like my body was not my own. I do not like it." Ezra replied looking at the deactivated Lightsaber. "If that is what the Force is then I rather not remember."
"Ezra, it is part of what makes you, you. We will try again later. Right now, let's go for a walk." Sabine was worried, Ezra almost was afraid to use his natural abilities. Taking his hand, she interlaced her fingers and they began to walk around the snow-covered grounds.
Breaking through the blockade that surrounded Atollon, Edge Artillies zipped past from the only opening after Commander Sato destroyed one of the Interdictor Cruisers that kept the others from escaping. Now in an A-wing Fighter he had only one place to go to ask for help. Mandalore. Setting the course, he jumped into Hyperspace.
Sabine had to cajole and bribe Ezra to pick up the Lightsaber again. She knew he was afraid of the thing and when he used it, he would lose himself in the moments that he practiced. Which terrified him, the Force would take over and during that time he was being controlled by it. "You are doing great, I am increasing to the maximum level." She told Ezra as he frowned and closed his eyes.
"Do I have to? I really hate the feelings that I get from using this thing." Ezra protested as he started blocking the three Remotes that fired at him.
Smirking Sabine exhaled. "If you want your surprise, then yes you have to." Watching as he blocked and parried the incoming stinger bolts. When the timers ran out, he deactivated the Lightsaber and this time did not drop it, instead he placed it on his belt. Stepping up to him, she put her arms around his waist. "Here is your surprise." Leaning in she kissed him, slipping her tongue into his mouth and held him for several minutes. Parting she gazed at him.
"Totally worth using that thing again." Ezra stated as he held Sabine close.
"Glad you liked it." Then she saw the incoming A-Wing. "Come on, let us see what this is about." Walking with hands intertwined they went inside to see what was going on. Inside Wedge almost begged for Ursa and the rest to send aid in breaking the Blockade.
"We do owe them something Mother." Sabine said as she approached with Ezra. "I will go."
"Not alone, I guess I am in." Ezra volunteered as the others in the room looked at him.
"Are you sure you are up to this?" Sabine asked, suddenly feeling concerned that perhaps he should stay at Knownest.
"You told me that they are friends and allies of mine, even though I do not remember them. I am willing to help." Ezra said as Ursa nodded.
"Sabine, you may take whatever warriors that we can spare and a couple of fighters. Take Ezra to the armory and give him Armor." Ursa ordered as she saw several of the other Mandalorians shift uncomfortably in their own armor. "Who here disagrees that Ezra Bridger does not have the right to be proclaimed as one of our own?" Looking around the room, she could see her clansmen bow slightly in agreement.
Sabine was almost ecstatic, Ezra was now a Mandalorian even though he was not born as one. That finalized that she and Ezra were accepted as intended. He was soon to be hers now and forever. Taking him to the armory she picked up some armor that would fit him. Telling him the history of it as he put it on.
Holding the helmet, he looked at Sabine. "How do I look?" He asked her as she gave him an appraised look.
"Like a one of our own. Welcome Ezra Bridger Wren." Leaning closer she whispered in his ear. "Get used to that name, because very soon we are going to say our vows, then you are mine." Staring into his eyes she could tell he did not fully understand.
Ezra's eyes bulged as he looked at Sabine, he was almost in disbelief as she pulled back slightly and kissed him. "Do I have any say in this?"
"None at all, what you do not want to marry me?" She stated as she stared at him with a bit of anger and shock.
"Are you kidding, If I cannot remember anything else then the fact that I have been in love with you since I met you." Ezra replied as he smiled broadly.
"Good, I do not have to kick your ass. Come on sooner gone sooner back." Sabine led him back into the main hall. "We are ready."
Wedge flew the Stolen Imperial Lambda Shuttle into the Attolon System. Four Mandalorian Fighters flew escort. Within moments they began the attack on the other Interdictor Class Cruiser. As he moved the Shuttle across the bow of the ship the Mandalorians and Ezra jumped, using their Jetpacks to attack one of the Gravity Generators.
Sabine kept an eye on Ezra as they rocketed towards the Dome Shaped Generator. She was worried that he may not be ready for this type of action. He surprised her almost instantly, igniting his lightsaber it seemed that he was his old self again. Blocking incoming TIE Fighter fire right into the shield that protected the Dome. To her estimation he was even better than before. When she tried to contact him, he did not respond. That really made her concerned. Swooping near him she tried to contact him, she knew that he was totally immersed in the Force. Moments later the Generator overloaded and she contacted everyone on the surface that they could escape. Signaling the others to rendezvous with the Shuttle she turned to make sure Ezra was retreating, he wasn't he continued to fight the Spacetroopers. Signaling him again, she suddenly realized that he was not going to respond. Switching the comm to a direct link she screamed his name as loud as she could. He immediately stopped and looked around him confused. Switching her blaster to heavy stun, she moved closer and stood right in front of him. She reached out left handed and took his Lightsaber then shot him. With the help of one of her fellow Clan Members they flew back to the Shuttle.
As the Shuttle flew away from the Combat zone, Sabine took off Ezra's helmet and looked at him. "What happened, I thought he was somewhat back to normal?" One of her Clan Members asked as he looked down at the unconscious Ezra.
"I do not know Gysner. I have never seen him do that." Sabine said as she put his head on her knees and gazed at him with concern. Deciding that he was never going to be put in that type of situation again, not until he had more of his memories back.
"During the engagement it was like he was a Zombie Droid, no emotion, no thought. It was frightening". Wedge said from the cockpit as he looked back at them. "Oh, they got off, thanks to you. We are heading for the rendezvous location."
"No, we are going back to Mandalore." Sabine stated as she reattached Ezra's lightsaber to her belt. "I am not sure it would be a good idea for Ezra to be confronted by the others right now."
"I will contact them and tell them, but you should know that Captain Hera and Kanan were asking about Ezra a few minutes ago." Wedge informed Sabine as she frowned.
"Tell them nothing about what had happened, I will contact them when I think that he is well enough to have them visit." Sabine ordered as she looked down at Ezra. Biting her bottom lip, she became more concerned that perhaps Ezra may have slipped into the Dark Side while he was immersed in the Force, he seemed to have no conscious or emotion. What she knew about the Force was limited, only what she had overheard from Kanan instructing Ezra and some old text that she had located when the two began training. Until she knew she did not want Kanan to know what had occurred or to have contact with Ezra. Kanan might want to take Ezra away to make sure that he was not embracing the Dark Side even by accident or reflex. Whispering mainly to herself, Sabine frowned. "No one is going to take you away from me, not even a friend."
Kanan looked blindly at the Lambda Shuttle, he had felt Ezra. But it was different, while he was using the Force Kanan could feel that there was something wrong. It was like it was not Ezra but some portion of him. Not one bit of Ezra's consciousness was involved, it was all reaction without any thought or feeling. That just felt wrong. Bendu must have felt it also, but did not relay it to Kanan as they left. Which concerned him even more, the almost omniscient being had a different aspect and view of the Force. Bendu perceived the Force not in Dark or Light side but as just the Force. In some ways it confused Kanan. He did not agree with the transmission from Wedge that Ezra and Sabine were going back to Mandalore. He was half tempted to contact them and demand to see Ezra, but that might not go over well. He had seen Sabine become irrational once or twice before when someone who she cared about was threatened. She might not react well if Kanan does something that she perceived as not in Ezra's best interest. He knew that she cared about Ezra, more so in the last year or so. Even though he was blind he could see when Ezra did something reckless, Sabine became more and more concerned.
"You are awfully quiet, dear." Hera said from the cockpit as she plotted the hyperspace course to the rendezvous.
"I am just concerned on what I felt earlier." Kanan replied as he blindly looked at her, then sat down in one of the other chairs. "I may need to see Ezra soon."
"I do not know if Sabine will agree to that. She has become slightly possessive over him." Hera stated as she engaged the hyperdrive. "She can be a little stubborn."
"It does not matter what Sabine wants, it is what might be best for Ezra. If what I sense continues he might turn to the Dark Side. When he was there it was not him, it was strange more like he was just reacting." Kanan informed her as he silently pondered the ramifications, he had never heard of such an occurrence before. The Force was guided by a person's feelings and emotions, with Jedi they had to be Calm and at Peace. What he felt from Ezra during the battle was nothing, a blank slate. Almost like Ezra was not even out there.
"As soon as we get the others settled, we will take a side trip to Mandalore and check on him and Sabine." Hera stated as she saw Kanan nod with agreement.
Ezra awoke and looked around confused. Seeing Sabine standing over him, he saw her concerned expression. "You shot me!"
"I had to, you did not respond and you were not listening to the withdrawal order. It was like you were not even aware of what was going on. Sorry." Sabine replied feeling guilty. "The good news is that the others were able to escape, thanks to you and us."
"I do not remember a thing, I remember flying towards the Grav Generators. Then you shot me. That is all." Ezra said as he somewhat shivered. "I do not think it would be wise for me to do that again."
After landing at the Fortress Ezra walked down the ramp with Sabine. Glancing down at his Lightsaber. "Throw that thing away, I am never touching it again." He stated.
Sabine understood, in that moment when he was using the Force it was not him. She knew that he was worried that when he was in that state he might have turned on the others or even her, not even realizing that he did it. "I will put it away, maybe later when you have more of your memories and can remember being a Jedi I will give it back to you."
After making her report to her mother Ursa, Sabine went to check on Ezra. She was concerned about what had happened to him. As she entered his room she saw him sitting on the bed and looking out the window. "Ezra are you alright?" She asked as she sat next to him.
"I am fine, I was just trying to remember what I did. It is still just a blur, I can see fragments of what I did but it feels like it was someone else not me." Ezra replied. "I think even in that state I am no danger to you or the others. I may have been out of control but in some way, I was in control."
"That is good isn't it." Sabine reached over and took his hand intertwining her fingers in his and giving them a gentle squeeze. "Just think if you go out of control, I can always just shoot you." She smiled and saw him stare at her with shock. Then he started to laugh.
"Just not on heavy stun, my fingers and toes are still tingling." Ezra said as she leaned over gave him a small lingering kiss. Then put her head on his shoulder.
"Ok, so next time I will just shoot you with the regular setting. Unless you piss me off then I get to shoot you with the higher settings." She smiled then chuckled. Standing she pulled off her armor and went into the Refresher, coming back out wearing a long shirt that stopped just before her thighs. "Let's go to bed. We are both tired and need to get some sleep." Ezra went into the Refresher and soon returned wearing shorts and a shirt. Neither were ready to undress or dress in front of the other. Crawling into bed, she joined him and cuddled up to him.
Holding Ezra tightly she stayed awake as he fell asleep almost instantly. It bothered her that while they were in bed that he did not try to cop a feel or by accident touch her in certain areas. But of course, she did not do that either. Secretly she wondered what it would be like to have sex with him. She knew that she loved him and that he loved her, the next logical step would be to say the vows then have sex. She felt the urge to just say the vows, but that would break centuries of Mandalorian custom. Intended had to wait until a certain time has passed before they could be married. That and he just turned eighteen and she had just turned nineteen. They were adults but still were too young to commit to something that would be for the rest of their lives. There was no divorce for Mandalorian's. Once married it was for life. As she continued to think she pulled him closer and drifted off to sleep, feeling content and comfortable. But knowing she wanted more.
Kanan was slightly annoyed as he spoke to Ursa Wren over the Communication Transmitter, as the Ghost sat in orbit above Knownest. "I need to talk to Sabine and Ezra."
"I am sorry, but I agree with my Daughter. Ezra is not ready to see you yet. When Sabine believes that he is ready then we will contact you." Ursa replied as she sat on her throne and looked sternly at the image of Kanan.
"I really do not need your permission to talk to Ezra." Kanan protested.
"Yes, you do, Ezra and Sabine are intended. He is officially part of my Clan and has my protection. Now leave and when we decide he is ready I will contact you." Ursa ordered as she terminated the transmission. Leaving Kanan staring at an empty screen.