Emptiness

"Do it," Baylan's voice compelled her, his hand outstretched to her, "for Ezra."

Sabine was being torn as she looked at the star map in her hands. The darkside force user had laid bare all her trauma before her. She remembered when the news had reached them of the Empire's attack on Mandalore. How she begged Ahsoka to turn their ship towards the destruction only to be told it was no use. Bo-Katan's message on the death of her family burned into her mind. The years of solitude that followed after Ahsoka had ended her train and left her on Lothal.

When Ahsoka returned to her with a way to find Ezra, she had felt hope for the first time in years. Sabine felt pride when her old master agreed to take her back on as an apprentice. Now Ahsoka had fallen to her death. She was alone once more. The map could still lead her to Ezra. Sabine's hand tightened around the sphere as her heart pulled at her chest.

Fighting would be pointless. Sabine didn't stand a chance against Baylan. If she made a run for it, he would cut her down before she could even take one step. His offer, to go with him and be reunited with Ezra was so tempting. Finding her friend was all she had left. To see him again. That playful smile of his. Those blue eyes. That carefree optimism that led them to victory. To have someone that wouldn't leave her alone.

The fate of the galaxy laid in her hands. Perverting a war weighed against her desperation for her friend. Between what was right and what she needed. Her emotions a storm pulling her in so many directions that she couldn't think clearly. Her blaster, trembling ever so slightly, was still pointed at the sphere; her hand slowly began to stretch out to the man.

"As a Jedi sometimes, you have to make the decision no one else can."

"Sometimes we have to do what is right regardless of our personal feelings."

The shot echoed in her ears. Baylan slightly jumped back, his hand gripping the lightsaber at his waist. The star map crumpled out of Sabine's now burnt hand. For a moment nothing else happened. Neither of them moved. There was a roar of thunder overhead and the sound of crashing waves. After what felt like an eternity Sabine collapsed onto her knees. Her eyes locked onto the pieces of the star map.

"Master." the shaky voice of the woman who Sabine had been fighting before should have made her jump, but it didn't.

She felt Baylan's eye's boring into her for a minute.

"We're leaving." He began to walk pass Sabine but paused next to her. What he said next seemed mixed with anger, pity and admiration. "Farewell, Jedi."

An hour ago, Sabine would have felt pride in being called that. The hard work she had been putting in to carrying on Kanan and Ezra's legacy paying off. But she didn't feel anything from being called a Jedi. She didn't feel anything at all. Sabine just stared at shattered remains of the star map. Along with the last of her hope.

Hera had no trouble spotting the massive hyperspace ring as she and her squadron headed for the planet. Carson and his fellow X=Wing pilots were already getting into attack positions. She was about to join in the attack run when a ping on her scanner grabbed her attention. A single ship, speeding away from the oncoming battle.

"Carson, begin your attack run." Hera ordered as she turned the Ghost towards her target. "I'm going after an escaping ship."

"Copy that, Phoenix Leader." Carson affirmed the order. The squadron speeding forward.

Hera began to gain on the ship and saw it was an Eta-class shuttle. The same ship that Ahsoka said that the darkside force users operated. She knew it would be useless to try and get them to surrender but she had to give it a shot anyways.

"Eta=class shuttle, this is General Syndulla of the New Republic." She announced herself over the com. "Power down immediately and surrender."

"General Syndulla," a calm but slightly on edge man's voice answered her, "you have more pressing concerns on the surface then dealing with us."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hera demanded.

"Sabine Wren is going to need you." He with an eerie softness.

Hear felt the fear elevate within her but before she could demand an explanation from the man, his shuttle jumped into hyperspace.

"Mom?" Jacen's voice was filled with concern. "What did he mean?"

"I don't know." Hera's hands tightened on the controls. What could have happened to Sabine? Why was Ahsoka being omitted? She turned back towards the battle. The X-Wings had already destroyed the turrets and were beginning to work on the hyperspace ring's engines. She would need to assist them before she could head for the surface. She buried her concern as best as she could as she sped her way towards the battle.

Once the hyperspace ring was disabled and word to the fleet was sent, Hera head for the surface of Seatos. As she approached the coordinates that Huyang had sent her she saw two figures at the center of the henge. The sight helped relieve her nerves as she began to land. However, once she stepped off the ramp, she knew something was wrong. Sabine was sitting on her knees while Huyang was kneeling beside her. Ahsoka was nowhere in sight. Huyang turned his head towards her and she saw the concern in his eyes.

"We need a medkit." He said softly.

"Jacen." Hera turned to her son. Jacen's eyes were locked on Sabine, his face etched with pain. "Jacen, get the medkit."

Her firmer voice pulled him out of his trance and he ran back up the ramp. Hera approached Sabine and Huyang and kneeled down next to them, Chopper rolled up to the other side. What she saw brought a pang to her chest. Sabine's hand was badly burned but it was her eyes that brought Hera pain. Sabine's usually bright eyes were dead to the world. They were looking straight at metal fragments that Hera recognized as the star map. The map that could have led. to Ezra.

"Sabine," Hera gently placed her hand on the woman's shoulder, "what happened? Where's Ahsoka?"

"I haven't been able to get a response from her since I arrived." Huyang said after a moment of nothing but silence from Sabine.

Jacen ran over to them with the medkit. Hera began to treat the burn on Sabine's hand. The younger woman didn't even so much as flinch. As she worked Hera could see her son's eyes shifting between Sabine and the ocean. As if he wanted to help Sabine but his attention was be pulled elsewhere. Chopper grabbed hold Sabine's other hand and tried to get a response from her but Sabine remained silent.

"I'm going to get her onto the Ghost." Hera told Huyang once she finished bandaging up Sabine's hand. "We can discuss Ahsoka once I get her settled."

Huyang gave her a nod as she helped Sabine onto her feet. Fortunately, Sabine had enough coherence to stand up and walk but Hera had to guide her towards the Ghost, Chopper silently following them. Once on-board Hera took Sabine to her old room and helped her lay down in her bed.

"Sabine," once again Hera tried to get a response from the girl, was practically pleading, "please tell me what happened."

Again, she was met with silence. Sabine just stared at the metal ceiling above her as if it were her whole world now. Hera took the girl's uninjured hand into her own and squeezed hoping to give Sabine some form of comfort.

"General Syndulla," she turned to see Huyang standing at the doorway, "Jacen wants to talk to you. Says that there is something off about the water."

Hera didn't want to leave Sabine's side but knew if Jacen was sensing something it was best not to ignore it.

"Watch over her." She said to Chopper as she got up. The droid quietly took her place as she turned to leave the room sending one last glance at what she could only describe as a heartbroken girl.

Several Months Later

As Hera rode the elevator up to the top of the tower she reflected on the past months. The capture of Morgan Elsbeth, the prevention of Thrawn's return, had shattered the Imperial Remnant even more then it already had been. Sabine had saved the galaxy. However, the galaxy would never know what she had sacrificed. The Senate Committee had classified everything on the incident. When she found Ahsoka alive it had been enough to pull Sabine out of her shock and find out that she had destroyed the map. After that Sabine just wanted to go back to Lothal. And had stayed in her tower ever since. Ahsoka would frequently try to reach out through Hera but nothing seemed to work to motivate Sabine to leave and resume her training.

When she made it the top of the tower and walked over to the door to enter it, Hera paused. Wondering what she would find. Half the time it was a struggle just to get Sabine out of bed. The past months had been challenging for Hera. She gone on indefinite leave when she immediately realized that Sabine was going to need support. It pained her to watch the woman that had been like a daughter to her wither away before her eyes. Its why Hera never brought Jacen with her. No matter how much he begged her. She didn't want him to see and feel Sabine's despair.

Hera took a deep breath and opened the door. Sabine was still in her bed but she was sitting up against the wall. Her loth-cat was curled up in her lap. Her natural brown locks had grown out over the months, the purple dips now reaching her shoulder. It was a tangled mess indicating Sabine hadn't bathed recently. Hera saw the holopuck in Sabine's hands. The puck that she now knew had Ezra's separate private message that he had left for Sabine. It was going to be one of those days. Sabine wasn't going to be talking much.

Sabine hadn't seemed to have notice her arrival so Hera slowly approached her quietly and gently placed her hand on the woman's shoulder.

"Sabine?"

The girl jumped before looking at her with empty eyes.

"Oh, Hera. Hi"

She didn't smile. Sabine never smiled anymore.

"Come on." Hera gently got Sabine up. "Let's get you washed up."

As Sabine showered, Hera prepared something for her to eat. Hopefully she would eat today. Sabine exited the refresher and sat down at the table. The puck laying idly in front of her as she slowly ate what Hera had prepared for her. Sabine didn't eat much before she returned to sitting at her bed with the holopuck in hand. Hera sat down next her, the loth-cat joining them. Hera wrapped her arm around Sabine's shoulders and pulled her close. A single tear rolled down Hera's cheek for Sabine.

A/N: I think some fans have been far to harsh on Sabine for her decision to surrender. There is too much focus on the decision itself and the consequences that Sabine's state of mind, her depression and trauma, influencing her and Baylan using that to manipulate her is not being taken into consideration. So, this is how I feel things would have gone if Sabine had destroyed the map. I honestly don't think she would have survived, emotionally.