(Sabine Wren POV)
Well, I'm here.
The din from the crowd in the bar fades thanks to the distance as I shift subtlety on the railing, elbows perched on top.
Don't look up yet…
Ryder wants to honor all of Lothal's heroes. They didn't all vanish into the sky.
I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do.
Zeb's going to be the hardest part to get right, but that's something to sketch on at home.
It will be nice to have something new to focus on that's not reconstruction-related.
The quiet, mechanical hum of a droid approaching prompts me to turn and see AC-23, one of the bartending droids rolling up to me with the drink I ordered.
"Thanks, AC." I smile, taking both the drink and datapad, adding my normal gratuity to my tab then pass it back.
"Very welcome, Commander Wren."
The droid rolls away as I return to my perch, utilizing the stirring straw with my drink before finally sneaking my eyes up to the sky.
Definitely short hair for Ezra.
He became much more handsome after Malachor.
Grew up a lot. We all did.
I'll never forget trying to help as best I could, but still accidentally catching bits and pieces of Hera and Kanan learning to live with what Maul did.
Because Ezra fell for his tricks.
But he grew from it. And Kanan never held it against him.
Kanan too.
Kanan and Hera, Ezra and I. Zeb and Chop.
Six people can look a little busy, I'll have to frame everyone correctly and find the right background.
Lothal-themed absolutely.
Loth-Cats, grazing in the plains or something maybe…?
I have time to think about it. Ryder just named me "Head of Artistry" for the newly created Heroes of Lothal Project.
More downtown redevelopment, which is good. There's becoming a nice little arts district down by, well…
Pivoting here on the railing, I stop peering into the sky and look out towards the Bay District and the bay itself.
One of the best sights in the galaxy, the sunsets.
Sipping my drink, I take the night in as it begins.
The setting sun is glistening off the bay, bathing the all-white facades of Lothal in a fiery hue. Meanwhile, the ever-increasing hustle and bustle of the plays out in front of me.
Speeders ferrying customers to dinner or home, crowds gathering to see the newest flic on the holo or music act.
I think Deana, the Core Drive group I've been listening to lately is coming here soon.
Hearing "Igyah Kah" live would be pretty wizard.
And the fact that they were on the initial set of dates they put out shows how much Lothal's grown.
Good job AC.
Maybe I should go. Get out, be social.
Then again…
I turn around and see the balcony around me, snaking the side of the building on top of the hill, completely empty.
I think this is social enough for me.
If I'm doing anything or going anywhere, I need to go see Hera and Jacen. But that would require showing my face to the New Republic.
And maybe Ahsoka.
She's out there somewhere, doing…whatever. Not looking for Ezra like she said she would after she came back.
After she said I was too attached to continue training with her as a Jedi.
Which I was only doing to go help find Ezra, by the way. Huyang, the droid she found somewhere over the years is lukewarm at best towards my training.
Exhaling heavily, I take a large gulp of my drink, a salted, iced, lemonade, and Ne'tregal concoction, and close my eyes.
I'm supposed to be trying to relax after that meeting…not winding myself back up.
My sightline when I reopen my eyes is even with the clouds, which had obscured the sun earlier as somebody drifts out onto the balcony and seems…
To be looking for something.
He looks out at nothing, seemingly, then goes back inside.
I hope I didn't miss a memo about some outdoor concert or fireworks show or something. I'm not in the mood, I just wanted some peace and quiet.
There are a lot of people here tonight, but it's the end of a busy week.
Jho's Dock usually has a line out the door. But not so early.
Something must be—
…what's that noise?
I strain my ears to the odd sound, almost like chirping as I'm not the only one to notice as at first one person, then a positive stampede of people hurries out onto the balcony.
"Look!" Somebody points up into the sky, which is quickly transitioning from sunset to pitch black as—
"There they are!"
Birds, of some kind fill the sky and are flying directly over the bay and—
Right over us.
"What are they?" I hear somebody ask.
"A special type of sparrow native to Lothal. Today's their migratory day."
"Migratory Day?"
"Yeah!" I barely hear over the din of the birds flying overhead by the thousands.
"—born on the beaches and once they can fly, all at once they, well—." He says to his presumed date, who beams from ear to ear and looks up at the sky as it starts to slowly thin.
Wow.
Ryder's environmental protections are working.
Ezra would be so happy to see this.
"Hey Sabine…"
Just like the Purgill.
Ezra called them to help us fight Thrawn. Nobody knew what the final step of the plan was.
"Oh look more!" The woman says, so excited it's almost a squeal as now this balcony is positively packed.
"Yeah, they don't all hatch at once…" The guy begins going into detail, which instantly turns me off.
Good luck to you guys though. Hope you have a great night…
Weird way to meet the love of your life.
I guess I can't really talk. The person I was interested in hopped on a bunch of space whales instead of migratory birds before I got a chance to even ask him out or anything.
And now he's been gone for years.
At least he left me that message. It…
Priceless. It shows how much he cares.
He couldn't just say goodbye. So he had Chopper hit record and went.
He…
I think he knew how much it would hurt me after I confided to him about Ketsu.
"And more than the others…I need you to understand."
I'm trying, Ezra!
Maybe I misunderstood. I don't know!
I'm all alone here now! Everyone's gone their separate ways!
Maybe Ezra meant for us to go out and find him. Maybe he can't come home.
He might not have totally known what he was doing. I mean, this is Ezra we're talking about.
He was thinking like we all were thinking: How to find a way to beat Thrawn.
I never thought Ezra would think up "Have the Purgill take Thrawn away". But he always had a connection to nature and animals, especially the Purgill.
He should have died after he fell off that asteroid the first time—
—
Wait.
We weren't near Lothal.
That wasn't in this system.
…
"How far do these birds migrate?" I turn to the loving couple beside me. The woman jumps out of her skin, clearly having forgotten I'm even here.
Oops.
"Uhh, a few hundred miles usually." The guy replies as his date smiles at me. They together, tactfully drift away as the balcony has thinned, as have the birds.
Still some though.
How would the Purgill know where to jump to? And why
Other than to find that gas they need to be able to make the jumps into hyperspace that they need, for whatever reason.
They're space whales! I don't…
Maybe Ezra tapped into some…migratory route. I doubt Ezra had time to tell the Purgill where to go.
And I don't think Ezra meant to get this lost.
It's almost been a decade now. It's been so long…
We've all missed him so much. Jacen only knows him through the stories Hera's told him.
Of how the whales took Ezra and the Empire far, far away.
I remember in the immediate aftermath, knowing that he'd show up somewhere.
You can't just vanish into Hyperspace with a huge Star Destroyer and not get away with it.
I mean…I didn't.
Mom, Dad, and Tristan should have stayed on Krownest, like Al'ia thought so.
And Bo-Katan herded everyone up, Tristan, his…everyone.
Everyone…gone. Mandalore, glassed.
Ezra and I might have been able to buy some time. Together, as one, Mandalore would have been able to stop it.
Bo-Katan thought Mandalorians were stronger together.
Instead, she herded us all up for slaughter. Because I gave her the Darksaber.
Everyone followed her. I would have if I wouldn't have been with Ahsoka.
I…
I finish my drink in one gulp and turn to look for AC.
I need a new drink, a datapad and a connection to the Holonet.
Surely somebody knows something about Purgill…
(Sabine Wren POV)
"Ring Security has issued a safety advisory for everyone warning against using the darkened alleys of the Ring…"
Comforting.
Having cleared the standard security and customs officials, the beauty of the Glavis Ringworld shines through as soon as you step outside.
It looks like you could just walk out into space…
The overhead speakers continue to pass along the security message, in basic and it sounds like a variety of other languages as I do my best to blend in with the crowd.
Small sign, makes sense with the name.
I hope this works.
It's—if it doesn't. Oga's…small sign lit neon green…
Pulling my jacket a little closer, Ezra's lightsaber bumps into me through the bag slung over my shoulder as I keep my eyes open for the sign. The further I walk the more the crowd thins.
I don't want to look like I'm lost. If I don't see a directory soon, there's a large bank of lifts.
I'll stroll into a restaurant and play—SMALL GREEN SIGN!
Oga's…
The tip from Jho's Dock paid off...
Now I just hope he sees me. He's not going to recognize me, but I couldn't wear my armor out.
Unbelievable.
Hera and everybody from Lothal about this was right.
Wearing my armor out right now makes me a target. I'm never going to get used to that.
Unable to wear it with pride…and I could during the Empire!
The crowd, which had pretty much dissipated picks up again as I get closer to the establishment with the small sign lit neon green.
The bouncer lets me in without a word but does accept the credits I flip his way, getting a smile in return as I feign looking for a friend before walking to the bar and finding an opening.
Barely. Place is packed.
I'm not noticed right away, which isn't a problem.
Actually, gives me time to look around.
The usual sights and sounds. Name a species you can think of, it's here, music and ambiance matching the energy in the place…
"I'm sorry dear, good help's impossible to find that isn't a droid. I can get you a drink for sure. Job too, if you want it." A woman flies into sight as behind her, others are flying around.
"Ne'tragal? Or Narcolethe?" I ask with a smile.
She recognized the Mandalorian.
"Both…not many ask for that either." She gives me a look before vanishing.
I hope that's good. She seems like the type that would be familiar with Hondo.
If you meet him you can't forget him.
My new friend behind the bar reappears with a bottle of narcolethe, clearly chilled as well as the glass for Ne'tragal and the bottle as well. "Dealer's choice."
I point to the narcolethe with a smile and add "I'm looking for a friend too. He might not recognize me though."
"Not recognize you? Dear, you are beautiful. Your hair is…"" She says as she pours my drink and then slides it to me. What's his name? He'll be on the street in a minute."
"No, no!" I laugh while taking the glass. "I'm dressed differently. Is all."
The bartender's look stays. Her smile says it all as I thank her for the drink. "What's the name?"
"Hondo Ohnaka."
The smile on her face slides right off. "He's pirate scum. You're too good for that."
"He's an old friend." I shake my head.
The woman's gaze hardens for a moment, then fiddles with something behind the bar and leans closer. "You don't look like trouble, but pretty girls never do. Is Hondo your friend or can he help you find your friend?"
"Both. He knows my friend. My friend's lost. I…was hoping to talk to him." I impulsively decide to roll the dice.
She looks like she's high up here. And the new Jho's guy owned the place.
People know people.
"Lost running with Hondo is a problem you may need to forget about dear. What's his name?"
"Jabba the Hutt."
The bartender snorts, which gets the brief attention of a couple of patrons who quickly turn away. "Sure."
"I know he's here." I quickly jump in. "Just…please go tell him that I'm here to ask about my old friend Jabba. He'll know what I mean, and who I am. Like I said, new look." I throw a smile on top at the end.
The woman behind the bar's whole demeanor has changed, and she bites her lip for a minute before holding up a finger and quickly serving somebody else.
In a flash, she's back before topping off my drink. "You…don't move."
Whew.
I wasn't expecting that reaction.
I mean, I know he's dead. Which has caused absolute chaos up until here recently and the Pykes in Jabba's old territory.
Ezra, you couldn't have come up with a more believable—
Uh oh.
The bartender pops out from behind and waves for me to follow.
Here we go…
Exhaling, I follow her past the group right at the bar, then follow along a wall before she leads me down a staircase with illuminated walls on both sides.
"So…" She begins after we walk for a minute. "You got a reaction. But the tip about the new look helped. He's right along here. Now…" She reveals that she's got the whole bottle before extending it to me.
"I hope all this is above board. Hondo claims he's some noble pirate, but if your 'Jabba'…is with him—?"
"He's not. But Hondo might know where to find him. I bet you know how Hondo is."
"Hondo Ohnaka is Hondo Ohnaka. Famous, infamous pirate." My new best friend smiles at me. "Let me do the talking first."
Sure.
I nod, then do just that as she takes point and closes the rest of the hall to a closed room, where raucous laughter erupts—
My new best friend doesn't care and walks right in any way, holding the door for me.
It's a big sabaac game.
A pair on either side of the table are yelling at each other just before an ear-piercing alarm goes off, causing me to cover my ears and the room to leap into chaos.
WHAT IS HAPPENING?!
My new friend pushes me protectively against the wall as everyone is yelling— "I don't know, I didn't know—" She says before wheeling on me. "You're packing?!"
"I—"
"She's Mandalorian!" A voice that can only belong to one breaks through. "Weapons are a part of her religion."
The crowd parts to reveal Hondo Ohnaka, who motions for the room to relax. "Everybody calm down, you can go back to arguing about losing all your money to me—"
Hondo's outlandish statement works, directing all the attention in the room off us and onto him. It also hides my involuntary laughter.
Not bad…for Hondo.
He knows it's me though.
It worked.
"—she's an artist, she's a freedom fighter, she's a spirit that cannot be contained." Hondo tells the remaining assembled, including my friend who turns to me.
"Who are you?!"
I smile, numb. "Just a girl in a big galaxy now."
Hondo loudly laughs before noticing the bottle in my hand and turning to Marini. "Has she paid for anything?
"No."
"Fantastic! Get her a menu and put it on my tab. I'm sure she's flown a very long way."
—
Marini disappears as Hondo begins herding everyone back to their game. All seats end up occupied, except for the middle one which has no chips, isn't the dealer but is at their right hand.
"—Yes, thank you." Hondo accepts a black cane with something gold on top before he turns to lead me out. "Follow me, please my darling…"
He's getting soft…
Since when did Hondo Ohnaka need a cane to walk?
The cane leads the way as his speed isn't an issue before we finally stop at another bar and he pulls out the first seat he sees. "Now now…" he peers up before motioning for the bottle I've brought.
"Mandalore deserved a far better fate than what happened my dear. But I'd be lying if I told you I'm glad you weren't there. And alive." He extends a shot of narcolethe. "To Mandalore…"
The shot is halfway to my lips before Hondo adds "And to you." Before we both take it and my whole mind is consumed by the burn of the alcohol, followed by the mind-clearing shock.
At least for me. When you do shots of it. Not meant to do shots of it though.
"Why are you being so nice?" The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
Hondo immediately laughs. "I just cannot believe it is you! It's been so long, and the first thing I hear of you is about our mutual friend, who…" He gestures to my outfit.
"I couldn't wear my armor out." I defend my look, feeling Hondo's implication.
Hondo makes an understanding motion. "No. Only bad things can come from wearing your Mandalorian armor right now. The Empire might have fallen, but that valuable beskar…"
"It's not for sale." I warn Hondo.
It's behind 24/7 guard at Ryder's complex on Lothal until I return.
"Touchy touchy are we…? Not so used to being so exposed to the world without it."
Hondo…
"I mean no offense. I speak only to the practicality of it all. Even if I would most certainly take you in a fight Sabine!"
I give Hondo a thin smile and a roll of my shoulders before pouring myself a small drink and settling further into my chair.
I'm here. I gotta put up with this if I want…
When I look up, Hondo smiles at me. "What can I do for you? Marini said you mentioned Jabba the Hutt, but I would imagine that was just to get in the door…and we both know who that really is." Hondo's sentence trails off with laughter.
I return the smile before answering. "That's why I'm here. Can I…" Hondo nods as I take my bag off my shoulder place it onto the bar and begin digging into it for the datapad that I copied my work onto for him.
"Thank you." He takes the datapad and begins operating it like an ancient. "Now…what is it exactly that I want to be looking at?"
"Well, I…had an idea. About Ezra, where he is—" I motion with my hands, then look back to Hondo.
"I imagine you've done a lot of that. And if you are coming to me, this idea is far from…conventional." He laughs, sounding a bit more like himself.
He's…got a lot of grey and lines in his face nowadays.
"You're right. So you can't laugh at me, I need you to just…hear me out." I move to grab my own datapad. "Okay?"
"Okay."
I look back up only to have Hondo's full attention. "So those creatures that Ezra disappeared on. Do you know what they're called?"
"They're called Purgill." Hondo instantly replies. "In my younger days I didn't believe the stories of spacers and their…space whale stories—."
I can't help but laugh, which makes Hondo beam. "—but then I discovered them on a trip of my own. One took out half my ships without even noticing. From then on until I saw them with Ezra, I only saw them as a menace."
"We—me, Hera, Kanan, Ezra, we ran into them before Lothal." I explain to him. "Hera told us similar stories, how they usually are seen as bad omens."
"Very, the very worst of omens during a flight. You looked into them?"
"Yeah." I blankly respond, before refocusing. "Did you know they're migratory?"
Hondo seems to think about it. "I don't think I've ever thought about it before. No. I suppose so…maybe? Why?"
"Well…you know Ezra and how his plans aren't always…plans?"
Hondo laughs and leans back. "A shared specialty of ours! One of the many reasons Ezra and I always worked so well together!"
"Nobody knew what he was going to do with the Purgill." I push forward.
"Certainly not." Hondo agrees.
"Well what if…Ezra tapped into something he didn't mean to with the Purgill?"
He won't get the Imperial part of this with Mandalore. I gotta talk around that.
Hondo's face, then body comes to life. "Yes, YES! It makes absolute sense that Ezra, in a moment of need, calling upon his Purgill friends, tapped into something about their core nature and accidentally lost himself to space!"
Hondo laughs but continues. "A resourceful girl like yourself, I have no doubt you've researched all the migratory patterns, did all the work, mapped out a route to go to every planet to find your long lost friend, and just wanted to come talk to dear old—"
I can go back and cross-check against the routes. See if there are any reported incidents…
I don't think Ezra's nearby. It feels like he's very far away.
During my training with Ahsoka, that's how it felt.
Ever since the Purgill vanished I've known.
But it's a place to keep going.
"Thank you, Hondo." I smile genuinely at him. "That's a great idea."
…
Hondo.
"This is an awful lot of work for a girl, about a boy who has been presumed dead for years now. And I speak highly of Ezra all the time. But you…" He gestures to my hair, which has grown enough for me to dye what's grown to match most of my outfits.
Similar to what I rocked today.
"This is a story I've heard and seen many times before. This isn't about the Purgill and their migratory routes…"
I try to speak, only for my throat to come up dry. As I go for my drink, Hondo concludes. "I suppose I should have known. The lengths the two of you have gone for each other. What's a few star systems to see an old friend like Hondo…"
"You really think my idea about the migratory patterns isn't crazy?"
"Ezra's true ability was connection. To everyone and everything around him. That boy—he changed my life, Sabine! I'll never forget that boy. He has a spirit unlike any Jedi I've ever encountered—and I encountered a lot!"
Again, I can't help but laugh.
I know Hondo.
"If he tapped into something about Purgill migratory patterns without knowing…that would most certainly explain what happened, and so quickly…" Hondo concludes with a muse.
Yeah, but we still don't know where he went.
"Most of what I've heard comes from the long-distance traders. There are some here on Glavis, although they're rarely here. Always gone, the distances and credits are so great." Hondo tells me, swirling his glass.
"Where do they go?"
"They begin in the Unknown Regions. Then to other galaxies mostly, looking for things you cannot get here on your own. Otherwise, the fuel cost and the risk of the Arcanaan Run—."
Oh!
"That's—" I snap, then start flying around on my datapad. "I found a bunch on that. That's the nebula where most sightings have been reported from."
The Arcanaan Run.
Hondo laughs again. "The Arcanaan Run is also nicknamed the Path to the Peridea. That is where the few that do travel that far do most of their trade."
"What do they trade?"
"Goods and materials that they can create in their galaxy that we cannot in ours. I've heard stories of stars of different colors, it's a younger galaxy than ours. The dense, raw materials still harvestable..."
"It has to be for somebody though: The traders wouldn't just…go." I reason with him though.
"Some do! The spirit of another final frontier, conquering it…I understood it once myself, in my younger days—"
Hondo…
"—but—but! Even then it was always connected to the Core Worlds and their manufacturing. Corellia, Coruscant, the Kuat Drive Yards…where raw materials are needed most!"
"So like the New Republic, old, galactic Core money."
Money that was just happily running the Imperial war machine.
Hondo's expression turns proud. "Under any variety of shell corporations….maybe? It's a very different place, Sabine, the rules aren't exactly the same. The Arcanaan Run runs directly through the Unknown Regions."
And its wormholes, supernova by the dozen, black holes, gravity wells…
"I saw not even the Jedi could travel it safely."
They lost a craft before the start of the Clone Wars. Jedi and Senators and Dignitaries and everything.
Poof. Gone.
"If you do not know the path you want to take, and ask the wrong people…" Hondo waggles his shoulders. "It can be done and has for a very long time. It is on you to take a guide. Perhaps leaving your morals behind and bringing your credits along."
…
I let Hondo's words hang for a minute before making up "I think I could find some credits somewhere."
Now that I'm all that is of House and Clan Wren.
"I don't know if you'll need to do that Sabine! As I said, I know many experienced travelers on these routes. I—" Hondo cuts himself off with a laugh. "It may be hard to believe coming from me, BUT! In this case, you want someone who knows, not who is going to give you the best deal."
I'm not thinking about the cost Hondo. I don't care about that.
Looks like I might be going on a trip.
"I'll tell you what!" Hondo gets to his feet, encouraging me to do the same. "Melch is here! I believe he's traveled the Arcanaan Run. Let's go talk to him. And where is dear Marini?"
Hondo leads me out into the hallway, where we run into my best friend who gets me started on some food and a drink.
Melch helped me and Zeb and everyone take down the Dome.
'May the Force be with you.'
Ezra's words ring in my ears as I blink and find myself back at the Sabaac game, being seated next to Hondo.
The Force is telling me that it was a good idea to come here.
The game picks back up as Marini comes back with some finger food and more importantly, news that Melch is actually here on Glavis and on his way.
I wasn't counting on anybody other than Hondo seeing me.
Mid-bite, I glance down at my outfit which consists of dark boots and pants, my favorite orange top, and the bomber jacket I've added to over time.
If the Force is with me.
Then Ezra is too.
(A/N: The one-shot, Penelope is Canon in this AU. Chapter 3/3 of this prequel series, will follow shortly. Thank you for reading.)