Authors Note: Hey. This fanfic has been swimming in my head since I watched the end of rebels and with the Ahsoka series coming up fast (but not fast enough) I figured now was as best time as any to post it so here it is (also this is my first fanfic (ever posted) so please don't judge to harshly. Feedback is welcomed tho). Enjoy
Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren enter the atmosphere of the small forest plant far within unexplored deep space. It was their last option as they needed to refuel and do minor repairs. They just escaped from a battle with a small fleet left of the Empire and landed on the first plant that showed any signs of life. Sure enough, they found a small town in a clearing in the forest landscape. A transmission came through as they got closer asking their business.
"We need some maintenance done on our ship and to refuel," Ahsoka answered the transmission calmly.
"Very well. Processed to the ship docks. There your repairs can be done." The person on the other end instructed. Safely landed, they exited the ship and were greeted by a mechanic.
"Hello ladies. What can I do for ya?" He asked. He was of the Cerean species with black hair and brown eyes. Judging by his height and look he was probably middle aged, at most forty two.
"Hello, Mr…?" Ashoka started.
"Li-Jay-Danto but please call me Donte." The mechanic finished for her.
"Hello, Dante. We need some repairs done on the shield generators as well as a diagnostic ran to see what else. We also need to refuel that way we can be going as soon as possible." Ahsoka informed him.
"Very well. I'm still waitin' for some of my men to arrive back from lunch but we'll be sure to start as soon as possible. I'll go ahead n' run that diagnostic but 'm sure we can have y'all outta here by first light tomorrow."
"You can't get it done any sooner?" Sabine snapped as Ahsoka blocked her with her arm. "We've got places to be."
"Hey, lady, I ain't gotta help ya at all. Especially seein' as y'all got in a fight with someone. Be happy I ain't havin' y'all thrown off the planet." Dante snapped back.
"I apologize for my companion." Ahsoka said, going into damage control. "I understand it might take some time just please try to be done as soon as possible. Is there any place we could spend the night in the meantime?"
"Yessir. There's a motel on the other side of town. Short walk; even shorter drive!" Dante laughed.
"Very well. Thank you sir." Ahsoka said, ushering Sabine out. "How much will it be?"
"Can't say for sure, ma'am." Dante said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Y'all can pay before leavin' tomorrow."
"That's very kind of you, sir." Ahsoka replied. "You said there is a motel on the other side of the town?"
"Yes ma'am, the Ma-tel, is what we call it. Cutest little place and family owned. Although, I must recommend y'alls take a look around the town before shutting yourselves in. Wes have a lovely market and great sights around." He informed them with a smile.
"We will thank you very much." Ahsoka said, while pushing Sabine out of the hanger. The trail leading into the town was a few miles long so Sabine took time to complain while they walked.
"Why'd you do that? We could've fixed the ship ourselves. We've got places to be. Did you forget about the others? They're in danger, Ahsoka. They've been captured. And what about Ezra? He's still out there somewhere. We're supposed to be looking for him. Not wasting time on some small deep space forest planet."
"Sabine, I get it. I really do. But we won't do any good out there if our ship isn't fixed properly. Yes, I know you know how to fix it and you know I know how to fix it but we do not have the tools we'll need to get the job done. Plus, Dante said he has a team to work with; we don't. It's just the two of us right now so our best bet is to let them work on it and get out of here as soon as possible. Alright?"
"Alright, I get it. But that doesn't mean I like it."
"I know you don't but it's the best option we have. Now come on, we can find something at the market to eat and then go to the motel and relax for the time being." They continued to walk until they got to the entrance to the small but very busy town. From the looks of it, everyone knew everyone in this small happy town. It wasn't well populated -nothing compared to Coruscant or even Lothal- but that just added to the charm it had. There are houses lining the streets along with the occasional business and vendors and stands crowded the streets with probably a little less than half the population selling anything from food and homemade crafts and clothes. Many of the houses were different colors and some even had art designs on them. The businesses had signs that lit up at night with different colors to spell out their name and the sidewalks were covered with the drawings of children (some still working on their masterpieces). Sabine seemed to light up at the sight and Ahsoka could feel her at peace for the first time in a long time. Ahsoka smiled and led Sabine over to a stand to browse around for anything she liked or anything they needed. They looked around for a while and laughed with some of the townspeople.
"Ok, fine. I'll admit I needed this more than I was willing to admit." Sabine finally said to Ahsoka as she bought a few art supplies at one of the stands, smiling happily.
"See. I know you're anxious about everything -I am too- but we can't just ignore ourselves for the sack of everyone else. The others will be alright for now; you and I both know the last of the Empire is not going to do anything to them in fear of an attack. They only captured them to try and get the upper hand again."
"I know. I'm just worried about them. Plus, I was looking forward to seeing Hera and Jason again before going back out to look for Ezra." Sabine explained.
"I know but like I said they'll be alright. I can feel it." Ahsoka said as she started walking toward another vendor stand. "Besides, if you really want to spend time with Hera and them we can. I doubt Ezra is going anywh- Sabine?" Ahsoka stopped and looked back at Sabine. She was still standing close to the last vendor stand with her back turned to Ahsoka. Ahsoka walked back over to her. "What's wrong?"
"Look." Sabine said, pointing at a stand they had already been at and passed. There was a girl there now, about ten years old, packing her bag full of food. "She hasn't paid for any of it." Sabine informed Ahsoka. "She's stealing from these nice people and nobody is even batting an eye."
"Maybe they know she needs the food." Ahsoka tried to reason with her.
"Look around Ahsoka, there's not anyone else on the street begging for food or taking anything without paying. Plus the vendor was talking to her and once he turned his back that's when she started packing her bag with the food." Sabine explained as the girl got up and started walking away, heading toward the town entrance. "I'm not letting her get away with this." Sabine said before jogging off after the girl. Ahsoka followed. Or at least as best she could. The streets were still packed with people and Sabine and Ahsoka had a hard time getting through. By the time they did the girl was already halfway to the hangar where their ship was. "Why would she head there?"
"I don't know. Maybe you might be jumping to conclusions a little too fast there." Ahsoka said.
"Or maybe the mechanic is using that little girl to steal food for himself because he's a thief."
Ahsoka sighed and followed Sabine back to the hangar. By the time they got there the girl had already gone inside. Ahsoka thought it would be a good idea to wait outside and see what happens but Sabine decided to rush in instead. "Dad, I need a few more credits for the food. Mr. Collymore let me go ahead and bring the food but I still need to go back and pay him." The girl was saying to a human male that was working on their ship.
"Alright, dear. How much more do you need?" He asked, diverting his full attention to his daughter. That's when Sabine and Ahsoka saw it. The two thin healed scars on his left check. More and more pieces started falling into place now that they looked. The messy long blue-black hair and beard. The tanned skin and orange jumpsuit. And the voice. The gentle, caring, kind voice that only one person could ever possess.
"Ezra?" Sabine found her voice first. The man looked over at them. It was him alright. "Ezra." Sabine said, this time a lot more threatening.
"Hehe, hey guys." Ezra said, giving them an awkward smile and small wave