Resurgence of the Crystal

Chapter 9: Trust

AN: And now, I present the final chapter of this arc.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or anything affiliated with it.

Enjoy!

Ekram gasped, his eyes widening, visibly expressing the shock he was feeling. How do they know who I am? I've never met a Jedi before now. And the only person I've told my name to was Ember, and we were together this whole time before the Jedi arrived… So how do they know?

He thought back to when the Death Watch captured him. The Jedi were there with him at the time, yet his name was never uttered. How do they know, then? Can they read my mind? Ekram shook the thought away. Most likely, they can, but my name never appeared in my mind, so how else could they know?

He widened his eyes, realization hitting him like a punch to the gut. Of course! They must've looked for us in the Covert! His eyes narrowed and his lips dropped to a tight frown. They're going to take me back there, aren't they?

Arakan lowered his green lightsaber further toward Ekram. "I suggest you start talking, boy."

Ekram looked up at the Jedi. "I don't know anything about the Death Watch."

Arakan lowered his blade to Ekram's right hand. "Maybe slicing off that pathetic little hand of yours will make you rethink your answer."

"Master, he said he doesn't know anything," the female Jedi said, her voice a little shaky. "Why can't we just let them go?"

"He could be lying," Arakan said bluntly, keeping his gaze on Ekram.

"He's not lying," the short Jedi standing next to the female one said.

"Rafe, you're not that well attuned with the Force, so you can't know for sure—"

"I'm fucking sure, Arakan," Rafe emphasized. "I don't need to rely on the Force to tell whether someone is lying or not. And do you really think the blonde brat will have any information on the Death Watch? If he did, they would've killed him."

Ekram just looked between the three Jedi. The two short ones were talking like they wanted to save him, but the taller one, Arakan, seemed to be certain that he had information about the Death Watch. Will they leave us alone if I just lie and tell them what they want? No. They probably have an idea of what the Death Watch want. That must be why they're tracking them here. Ekram bowed his head as despair sunk its way into his body. Am I… really going to die? He glanced at Ember, who was still defiantly glaring at the three Jedi. Still… I'm glad to have met someone like her.

"You may be right, Rafe, but as I said earlier, they aren't here by accident." Arakan's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "So, let me ask you both a different question. What are you doing here on Concordia?"

Ekram knew Arakan had the answer about him, so he remained silent. Ember was still glaring at Arakan.

"Girl, are you affiliated with Ekram? Why else would you save him from the Death Watch?"

Ember just remained silent.

"Are you a part of the Children of the Watch?"

"Who the hell are they?" Ember finally spoke.

"Well, it seems like you don't," Arakan said. "So why did you kill two members of the Death Watch and save Ekram? It's obvious that you were spying on them."

"I made your job easier. Now fuck off."

Arakan sighed, clearly disappointed that he couldn't get any information out of them. "Well, you both leave me no choice then… We'll have to dispose of you so that the Death Watch can't get any information out of you brats."

Ekram let out a frightened gasp. He knew that Arakan was being harsh, but he was certain that the Death Watch would treat him and Ember much more severely.

"Come on. I've gotta take you both deeper into the forest. I'm sure the Death Watch are on our tail still." Arakan turned around and started walking up the hill.

"Wait, Arakan," Rafe said, grabbing Arakan's attention. "Let me deal with them."

Arakan looked at Rafe for a moment, then nodded. "Knock yourself out."

Rafe led Ekram and the girl deeper into the forest, his lightsaber pointing to their backs.

"Why don't you just kill us already?" Ekram asked.

"Shut up, Ekram," the girl said. "He's just bluffing."

Rafe pointed his lightsaber at the girl, completely ignoring Ekram. It was like he was listening to himself when she spoke. She spoke and acted exactly like him. As for her motives… he wasn't quite sure yet. But I'll find out. I'll do things my way.

They approached a dead end and stopped walking.

"Turn around," Rafe ordered.

"Why?" the girl asked. "You want to see the looks on our shitty faces when you kill us?" She eventually turned around.

"What makes you think I'd want to look at your shitty face?"

Her eyes visibly glowed in a blazing fury as she lunged at Rafe.

"Ember! Calm down!" Ekram warned her, putting his hands on her shoulders to hold her back.

"No, come at me, fire face," Rafe goaded. "This way you'll die with some dignity."

Even with her hands tied together, she charged at Rafe with a feral scream, launching a kick at his head. He ducked to the side, avoiding the attack. She then grappled his shoulders with her outstretched leg so that she was now sitting on his shoulders, then began to choke him with the rope that bound her wrists together, all the while screaming.

Rafe grabbed the front of her tunic and threw her forward, where she crashed into Ekram. Before she could get back up, Rafe knocked her and Ekram out.

Ekram slowly opened his eyes. He looked to his side to see Ember sitting next to him, glaring at nothing in particular. "Attacking him wasn't going to make our situation any better, you know," he told her.

She directed her glare onto him. "No shit." She looked away from him, sighing.

"Why didn't you talk? Or use me to escape?"

"Can't say…" Her eyes suddenly hardened. "I just wanted to be able to prevent that from happening again."

Ekram opened his mouth to ask for clarification, but remembered how she reacted when he questioned her previously, so he closed it. What happened to her? She's only around my age, yet she didn't even flinch at the thought of killing someone in cold blood. He remembered why she did it, though. Right. She killed them to save me. He snuck a glance at Rafe, who was sitting up on a tree branch. Although, the Jedi did have a point… What is Ember doing here on Concordia? She's not with the Death Watch or a part of the Children of the Watch, so what else could she be doing here?

"You don't trust me, do you?" Ember suddenly asked, snapping Ekram out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" He turned to look at her. "What gave you that impression?"

"Why else would you go all quiet all of a sudden? You have the same questions the Jedi do yet are too afraid to ask them… Or maybe you're aware that I won't spill anything and are smart enough to keep your mouth shut."

Ekram knew that she was right about both analogies. He didn't trust her, and it gave him a sick feeling in his stomach. Why am I feeling guilty? I'm sure she doesn't trust me. Unless… "Do you trust me, Ember?" he asked.

She looked at him, her eyes wide in surprise. "What makes you think I'd entrust my life to a twerp like you?"

Ekram bowed his head in disappointment. He figured that would be her answer. That's all anybody thought of him his entire life.

"You could be useful, though," Ember added.

"Is that why you saved me? So that I could be of use to you?"

"I already told you why. Don't make me repeat myself."

What's she hiding? Does she just expect me to blindly follow her around just because she saved my life? Ekram narrowed his eyes in deep thought. That was what he's been doing for the past few hours. He knew she could get him away from the Death Watch, and he always justified her killings by saving his life. She sees right through me. Maybe she'll kill me next. Ekram shook his head. No, there's a deeper reason for her actions.

He remembered the answer she gave him when he asked her why she didn't use him. And not long after she told him that she was essentially using him. So, which one is it? Does she trust me or not?

"You just gonna sit up there all night?" Ember suddenly asked, looking up at Rafe.

"Mind your damn business," Rafe said, then the three just sat in silence.

Rafe continued to gaze up at the dark sky. He knew that Ekram and Ember didn't know anything, but also had a feeling that they weren't being completely honest with him. And information is all we need for this mission, isn't that right, Arakan…? Yet you wanted to kill them. Fucking bastard.

He jumped off of the tree branch he was sitting on, landing silently in front of Ekram and Ember. "I believe you brats had enough alone time. Now, it's time to talk."

"We can do this all day, midget," Ember said in annoyance. "We don't have anything to tell you."

"You're just as short as me, flame face," Rafe pointed out. "Now start talking. Why are you here on Concordia?"

"Why don't you take your own advice and mind your damn business."

Rafe sighed and pulled out his knife. "If you don't start talking, I'll cut up blondie."

"Why should that matter to me?" Ember asked nonchalantly. "I don't even know him."

"You saved him from the Death Watch, so you must know something about him." Rafe knew that wasn't the case. He didn't even know Yuki and yet he saved her in the Underworld. Ember could've been acting in the same manner when she saved Ekram. "Well, it doesn't matter to me. You're both gonna be dead once I get the information I want out of you." Rafe grabbed Ekram's wrists and jerked them toward him, slowly bringing his knife down to his skin.

"You're bluffing. You're not going to torture us."

Rafe ignored Ember's pitiful idea of a distraction and brought his knife lower to Ekram's arm, but suddenly stopped when he noticed that his hand started shaking.

"See? You can't do it. You don't have the stomach for torture."

"Yes, I do," Rafe said, his voice shaking slightly.

"You're shaking all over," Ember pointed out. "It's obvious you've never tortured anyone before. It's different from killing, isn't it?"

"I'm sure I can figure it out." He put his knife away and activated his lightsaber, pointing the purple blade at Ember. "What did you want with the Death Watch?"

Ember just remained silent.

"Do you really think asking for information is going to get them to talk?" It was the Sith that spoke inside Rafe's head. "The girl's right. You've never been exposed to torture before. It's a completely different art than death. And those with morals and a conscience can't learn it."

"Not now, Sith spit," Rafe internally said. "I don't need your help."

"Then why are you still shaking? Just be honest, Rafe, you need my help."

Rafe closed his eyes tightly, trying to fight the Sith in his head. He knew he could get the information he needed. He just needed some more time. He refused to fall as low as the Sith allowed themselves to. "Why did you kill two of them?"

"We don't know, Rafe, really!" Ekram said, his voice cracking in a higher pitch. "Please don't force yourself to become a monster just for some information! I know it's not who you are."

"You don't know anything about me!" Rafe snapped. "Now keep your mouth shut, blondie." He looked back to Ember. "Why were you spying on the Death Watch?"

"It would be pointless to tell you," Ember said.

"And why is that?"

"Because the Death Watch are probably caught up to the other Jedi as we speak, and you're all alone with us. The way I see it, someone's going to end up dead."

Rafe took a step back. He just had one job to do, but he wanted to do things his way, as usual, and now his comrades were potentially paying for it.

Suddenly, Ember tackled Rafe to the ground. "Run, Ekram!" She slapped Rafe's lightsaber out of his hand, then grabbed the front of his robes, got to her feet, and threw him into a tree, pinning him against it. "Looks like you're the one who's going to die."

Rafe slammed his head into the crown of Ember's nose, then pinned her against the tree, holding his knife up to her throat. He suddenly looked behind him to see Ekram pointing his lightsaber at him.

"Don't make me do this," he said.

"As if you actually believe you could harm someone," Rafe scoffed. "You little blonde brat."

"Well, I am taller than you."

"Shut up!"

"Look, it's clear that you're here to stop the Death Watch. What they're planning, I really don't know. But I've been traveling with Ember. That's why she saved me. We were trying to stop the Death Watch ourselves. And maybe we can if you'll let us help you." Ekram deactivated Rafe's lightsaber and handed it to Rafe, who took it.

Rafe lowered the knife from Ember's throat, sighing in relief. He did it. He not only got them to talk, but he got them on his side.

Ember suddenly threw the back of her fist at his cheek, sending him flying.

"Ember, stop!" Ekram said, getting in front of her to prevent her from attacking Rafe any further. "He's on our side now."

"I know." She glared at Rafe. "You were just so damn close to me. I thought I was gonna be sick."

"Likewise," Rafe said neutrally. "You're not much to look at, either."

Ember's eyes blazed with fury, but Ekram managed to hold her back.

"Let's get going."

Rafe, Ember, and Ekram were running through the forest, trying to find Arakan and Yuki, who they eventually ran into.

"Rafe, are you okay?" Yuki asked.

He nodded, then looked up into Arakan's blazing eyes, preparing for another lecture.

"Where the hell have you been?" the dark-cloaked Jedi demanded.

"I got the information we needed," Rafe said. "They agreed to help us take out Death Watch."

Arakan looked between Ember and Ekram with narrowed eyes, then eventually conceded. "All right. We need to move now. The Death Watch are getting ready for battle."

The newly formed group of five were looking down at the Death Watch, who were walking around with weapons and supplies. They were definitely preparing for a battle.

"So, what's the plan?" Rafe asked. "We still need information out of them."

"No. It's about time we take the fight to them," Arakan said. "We need to ambush them."

"We're outnumbered," Ekram pointed out.

"Numbers matter not. In our case, anyway. Now let's get going."

And without further hesitation, they scaled down the cliff and charged toward the Death Watch, who didn't even seem to be surprised by the sudden ambush. In fact, they seemed to be thrilled at the sudden chance of combat.

They met their pursuers head-on, blasters and knives held in their battle-hardened hands.

That's all the Death Watch understood.

War.

And now it was here for them, and Rafe was going to make sure they got what they came for.

"We need to split them up," Ekram advised. "If they stick together, we'll be too distracted to pay any attention to anyone who tries to escape."

"Rafe, you're with me," Arakan said. "Yuki, you stay with the other two brats." He gave Ember a stern look. "And try not to kill anyone this time."

In response, Ember just charged ahead, engaging in close combat with a member of the Death Watch.

"Ember, wait!" Ekram called after her. "Don't be rash!"

Arakan sighed. "Those idiots. They're gonna drop like flies."

"Not unless I drop you first!" a Mandalorian yelled as he swung his vibroblade at Arakan, who jabbed his fist under the Mandalorians wrist, knocking the blade out of his hand.

Rafe rolled to the side as another member of the Death Watch started shooting at him. "Tch. They engage in combat with everyone else but decide to shoot at me. Why do I get all the bad luck?" He activated his lightsaber and deflected every blaster bolt that was fired at him until he was finally in close range with the Mandalorian.

"Bring it on, kid!" the Mandalorian exclaimed, who was literally swapping punches and kicks with Rafe. When he punched, Rafe blocked and delivered a punch of his own, and it continued until the Mandalorian ascended into the air with his jetpack. He shot a grappling hook down at Rafe, who used the Force to redirect it back toward the Mandalorian, entangling him and pulling him to the ground.

"Where the hell do you think you're running off to?" Rafe asked calmly, slowly approaching the Mandalorian. "You wanted me to bring it on, right? Well…" He deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it to his belt. "Bring it on, coward!"

"Not bad, Rafe," the Sith said in evil amusement. "Let the dark side take over. Let its power consume you."

Rafe ignored the Sith's voice in his head. He knew he was acting out on his anger at the moment, but he knew to restrain himself. He didn't intend on killing anyone. Not yet, anyway…

"I'm no coward!" the Mandalorian declared, struggling to get to his feet since he was tangled in his grappling hook.

Rafe cut it with his lightsaber, then deactivated it once again. "Come on. Fight with honor. That is if you have any."

"What would a midget like you know about honor?!"

Rafe exhaled a fiery breath, burying the increasing anger he felt about being called short. "I don't turn my back on my comrades, for one."

The Mandalorian was practically glaring at Rafe through his helmet.

"Now, enough talk. Bring it on!"

They charged at each other, but instead of attacking, Rafe just dodged every punch, kick, and jab the Mandalorian threw at him, all without using the Force.

"Fight back, you coward!" the Mandalorian yelled, his strikes becoming more wild and erratic.

Rafe suddenly ducked under the Mandalorian's fist that was heading toward his face, then launched his foot under the Mandalorian's chin, keeping his remaining foot and left hand on the ground.

The Mandalorian went flying into the air, but before he could escape using his jetpack, Rafe flipped into the air above the Mandalorian and stomped his boot into the Mandalorian's stomach, launching him to the ground.

Rafe slowly approached him. "Is that all you've got? I thought you Mandalorians were supposed to be battle-hardened warriors?"

The Mandalorian groaned as he struggled to sit up.

Rafe narrowed his eyes in disgust. "Such a disappointment." He reached a hand out to grab the Mandalorian, but stopped when he heard someone call his name.

"Rafe, stop!" It was Arakan. "What are you planning on doing with him?"

"Don't try to stop me, Arakan," Rafe said dully. "You sound like softy right now." He looked at Arakan. "I'm just going to get some information out of this piece of shit. That's what we're here for, right?"

"You're not yourself right now. A few hours ago you were trying to stop me from getting information out of the two brats that tagged along with us."

Arakan's statement fell on deaf ears as Rafe grabbed the Mandalorian and threw him into a cliff.

Everyone was just watching with looks of surprise and shock, the other Mandalorians lay off beside them, unconscious.

"Now," Rafe said, taking the helmet off of the Mandalorian, revealing a human with slicked back, blonde hair, and brown eyes, "what do you want with Duchess Satine?"

"You're just wasting your time," the Mandalorian said.

"And you're just wasting your breath." Without warning, Rafe thrust his knee into the Mandalorian's nose, which shot out a sickening amount of blood that splattered on the ground. "Now, I'll ask you again. What do you want with Duchess Satine?"

"You think you Jedi are doing the galaxy a favor? You've done nothing but bring chaos throughout the entire galaxy! You spread war everywhere you filthy rats step! But that's more of a fight for us, right?"

"Yeah, the guilt's really tearing me apart," Rafe said sarcastically, then thrust his boot into the Mandalorian's mouth, knocking out some of his teeth as his boot was now covered in blood and spit. "Now tell me what you want with Duchess Satine." He took his boot out of the Mandalorian's mouth so he could speak.

The Mandalorian just started laughing, as if he just heard the funniest joke in the entire galaxy. "It's no use. There's nothing you can do that will save the Duchess. As long as she continues to spread her ways of pacifism and peace, Mandalore will eventually crumble. And the Jedi will crumble along with those pacifists, starting with your weak girlfriend!"

Rafe glared murderously at the Mandalorian, then grabbed his wrist, turned him around, slamming him into the cliff, and jerked his wrist to the side until it snapped.

The howls of pain that came out of the Mandalorian's mouth echoed throughout the canyon.

"Hurts like hell, doesn't it? That's what you get for not answering my question. And something to know. One: Yuki isn't my girlfriend. Two: she isn't weak. Now, tell me what you want with Duchess Satine."

The Mandalorian looked back at Rafe with tears leaking out of his eyes. "Please, stop! I really don't know! Count Dooku is a very cautious man."

Rafe twitched his eyebrows in surprise. "Count Dooku… Is that your leader?"

"Rafe, Count Dooku is the leader of the Separatists and a Sith Lord," Arakan said, approaching him from behind. "As to why he's in line with the Death Watch, I have no clue."

Rafe looked back down at the still-weeping Mandalorian. "Still, terrorists like you wouldn't just act blindly. You must have a rough idea of what this 'Count Dooku' is up to. I suggest you work hard to remember." He grabbed the Mandalorian's unbroken wrist and pulled it behind his back. "You still have plenty of bones in your body that I can break."

"Are you insane?" the Mandalorian asked, sounding as terrified as he looked.

"Maybe," Rafe said bluntly.

"Someone's coming!" Yuki alerted them.

She, as well as everyone around her, took cover against the cliff.

"Shit," Rafe cursed as he slammed the Mandalorian on the ground.

"I told you it was no use," the Mandalorian said. "By the time you figure everything out, it'll be too late."

Rafe continued to look in front of him as the group approached them.

"Well, well… What do we have here?" It was Pre Vizsla, who was followed by three members of Death Watch. "A bunch of failures."

"It's over, Vizsla," Arakan said. "You've been beaten. Now tell us what you want with Duchess Satine."

Pre Vizsla's eyes lowered to the beaten Mandalorian on the ground, who was still being held down by Rafe.

"Pre Vizsla, I didn't tell them anything, I swear!" the beaten Mandalorian cried out.

Rafe shoved his face into the ground. "Shut up."

Pre Vizsla's eyes narrowed in disappointment. "I know, and you fought to the very end." His eyes zeroed in on Rafe. "You claim yourself a warrior, yet you got put in this condition by a midget." Without another word, he took out his blaster and shot the beaten Mandalorian.

Before the shot could make impact, Rafe pulled the beaten Mandalorian to the side, avoiding the shot.

"Stay out of my way, boy," Pre Vizsla warned, pointing his blaster at Rafe.

"Then tell me what you want with Duchess Satine," Rafe said.

"There's no point in telling you."

"And why is that?" Arakan asked.

"Because she's already dead. We sent an assassin after her on Coruscant. She's completely helpless."

Pre Vizsla was suddenly lifted into the air, clutching his neck as he was struggling to breathe.

"I'm certain you value your own life, so, I'm going to ask you one—last—time. Why do you want Duchess Satine dead?" Arakan growled, his hand tightening into a fist.

"S-So we can take over Mandalore…" Pre Vizsla breathed out. He suddenly dropped to the ground, gasping for breath. "Count Dooku promised us Mandalore."

"Master Arakan, do you copy?" Obi-Wan's voice suddenly rang threw everyone's comlinks.

"I'm here, General Kenobi," Arakan replied. "What is it?"

"Everything's handled here on Coruscant. The Duchess was framed by the Separatists," Obi-Wan explained.

"I know. It was Count Dooku."

"What does Count Dooku have to do with any of this?"

"I have no idea. But I'm sure we won't have to worry about the Death Watch for a while. Unless they're even bigger fools than I thought…"

"All right. Good job, all of you! I'll see you back on Coruscant." With that, Obi-Wan cut the transmission.

Arakan glared darkly at the Death Watch. "It's over for you. I suggest you give up before you get yourselves killed."

"Tch," Pre Vizsla scoffed. "We'll meet again, Jedi."

He flew away along with the other Death Watch members.

"So, is that it?" Rafe asked. "Are we done with the mission?"

"Yes, but there's still one thing we need to do," Arakan said.

They were back in the Covert, where all of the Mandalorians were glaring at Ekram.

He shrank away in fear, then flinched when Rafe put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't let your fear show," he whispered. "You need to show them that you're strong, just like you showed me."

Ekram nodded meekly, then stood straight, meeting the covered faces of people he used to think of as his brothers and sisters.

The leader approached them. "Ekram, you have returned."

"I have," Ekram said. "We no longer have to worry about the Death Watch. They just wanted to kill Duchess Satine of Mandalore, but they failed."

The leader nodded. "I see… You have been a great help. You have shown traits of a true Mandalorian. Now, do you accept the Way of the Mandalore, and upon swearing the creed, never remove your helmet?"

Ekram glanced around at the bowed heads of the other Mandalorians, then met the trusting gazes of Ember and the Jedi. His true comrades. He looked back at the leader. "I'm going to have to reject that offer."

"Are you sure?" the leader asked.

"Yes," Ekram said firmly. "I'm not ready to be a Mandalorian. There's still so much I haven't yet seen and still don't know." He looked back to his new comrades. "My new path is with them." He looked back to the leader. "If that's alright with you."

The leader looked at Ember and the Jedi, as if she was trying to see if they could be trusted or not, then eventually nodded. "Very well. Do as you wish. Just know, you are always welcomed back here as a Child of the Watch, young Ekram."

Ekram felt the corners of his lips curve into a small smile. He may have not liked it in the Covert, but he always had their leader—The Armorer—to go to for advice and safety. "Thank you." He bowed, which the Armorer returned.

"And Jedi," she said, "we are now in your debt. If there is anything you need from us, don't hesitate to ask."

"Won't you just be giving yourselves away by revealing yourselves like that?" Yuki asked.

"Yes, but you are our only allies. We asked a favor from you, and now it's up to us to return that favor."

"I understand."

And with that, Ekram and the others left the Covert.

"Well, I guess it's time to go, then," Yuki said awkwardly.

"Yeah," Ekram said. "Thanks for all your help. And Rafe…"

"Hm?" Rafe looked at Ekram, a bit surprised that he wanted to say something personally to him.

"Thank you for putting your trust in me." He outstretched his right hand, which Rafe shook.

"Don't mention it, blondie." He may have not thought much about the gesture of respect, but Rafe felt like he was seen as an equal, not a rat. "Try not to get yourself killed while I'm gone."

Ekram chuckled. "I'll do my best."

Rafe nodded at Ember, who just glared at him. Ignoring her, he walked away with Arakan and Yuki, looking back one last time to see Ekram waving at him.

Dank Farrik… Why is it always the soft ones that I grow attached to?

"Is everything okay?"

Ekram's sudden question made Ember focus her attention on him. She slowly looked at him. "I don't really know…"

"What will you do now?"

She glared at the sky. "I need to find someone." And when I do, I'm going to rip that bastard's heat out!

"Would you like me to help you?" Ekram offered.

Ember's eyes widened in surprise. No one has ever offered to help her before. She's always had to do everything on her own. "Why would you want to help someone like me?"

Ekram smiled. "Because you were good to me. You saved my life and helped me survive. Thank you, Ember."

Ember just blinked, not knowing how to respond. "Sure… Whatever… Come with me if you want…"

Without another word from either of them, they walked out of the canyon.

Rafe was now sprawled out on the floor in his dormitory, blankly staring at the ceiling. He knew he should've been sleeping at this hour, but he had too much on his mind.

A knock on his door rang through his ears. He got to his feet and slowly approached the door, knife hidden behind his back. He opened the door, where Yuki was standing.

"What are you doing here, softy?"

"I just wanted to talk…" she said, looking away in embarrassment. "May I come in?"

Rafe just blinked. "Sure." He stepped to the side, allowing Yuki to walk passed him.

She looked around his room. "You're really good at keeping things neat. I've never seen a bed so neatly made as yours."

"That's only because I've never slept on it."

She whipped her head around, looking surprised. "Why not?"

"Too soft," Rafe said simply. He sat on the floor, leaning against his bed, patting the empty space next to him. "Come on. Sit."

Yuki took a seat next to him.

"So, spill it. What do you want to talk about?" Rafe knew it was about something important. Why else would she come to his room in the dead of night?

"When you were torturing that Mandalorian, were you aware of everything you were doing, or did your crystal take over?" she asked.

Rafe remembered the situation clearly. He was so angry with the Death Watch, all he wanted to do was inflict as much pain as possible. "I remember it all. Down to the part where I broke the bastard's wrist."

Yuki turned away from him slightly. "Are you… proud of what you did?"

"What the hell? Of course, not. I proved to myself yet again that I'm just a shitty rat who will do anything to survive."

"But you did manage to get information out of him, so you had a purpose for torturing him, right?"

Rafe looked at the floor. "I guess so… Why are you trying to justify my actions, softy?"

"Because you're a good person, Rafe," Yuki said, smiling at him.

Rafe turned away from her, scoffing. "You're delusional. I'm far from good." He suddenly felt a hand on his, causing him to turn back to Yuki, his eyes wide in surprise.

"I mean it, Rafe," she said softly. "You are a good person. If it weren't for you, we never would've gotten Ekram and Ember on our side. And we found out what the Death Watch wanted because of you. It doesn't matter to me how you got the information."

Rafe's hands started shaking. "These are the hands of a thief. They're only meant to harm others…"

Yuki started rubbing her fingers over his hand. "These are the hands of a Jedi, Rafe. These are the hands of someone who will do anything to keep the ones he cares about safe."

Rafe just nodded.

They stayed like that for a few more minutes.

"You two gonna kiss or what?" the Sith asked amusedly.

"Shut up, Sith spit." Rafe looked up at Yuki, just noticing how close they were. "You can let go now."

Yuki's eyes widened as she jumped onto her feet, her entire face was colored a bright red. "S-Sorry!"

"You didn't do anything wrong."

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then…"

"Sure."

Yuki walked out of his room, leaving Rafe alone once again.

He lay on the floor and held his hands out in front of him. Am I really a good person? He looked at his left hand, and all he could think about was Yuki's touch. He could still feel it lingering on his hand. With a heavy sigh, he placed it on his chest, feeling his heartbeat.

"Thank you, softy."

To be continued

AN: And that is the conclusion of the Mission to Mandalore arc. I hope it was enjoyable for you all despite how slow-paced it was. It was mostly there to introduce Ekram and Ember, but I think Rafe and Yuki got some character development as well.

Anyway, thank you for reading, and I'll see you in the next chapter!