A/N: Bonjour! Happy thanksgiv- Wait… What do you mean it was yesterday? Was meant to get this out yesterday… Uh Happy late Thanksgiving! Yeah I have no excuses.
Some things to address before we get started; I love star wars and definitely delve further into it then a surface level. However I recognize that Star Wars is a deep and broad universe and while I like to think I know much there is to know both expanded and canon universes I know that I don't know nearly as much as I think I do.
One of these things I'm aware I lack knowledge in is Mandolorian's. They are incredibly detailed and I won't try to pretend I know every detail. I do know ( in my opinion ) enough to write a Mandalorian OC, and subsequently a story involving said OC. However if some details are incorrect I do apologize and feel free to correct me in the reviews.
That being said it is an AU so if it seems illogical or not plausible. Too bad that is the point of an AU after all.
With that being said, allow us to continue!
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. If I did, Rebels would NOT be suitable for seven year olds like it is now. A little bit more trauma, maybe even more character death, I don't know it'd be different I can tell you that much.
Chapter Three
Broadened Horizons.
After the interesting encounter in the cargo hold, Ezra and Zeb had handed their reports to Hera and quickly left the room before any more arbitrary tasks could be assigned to them. Unfortunately the young Jedi Padawan and the Lassat were not so lucky.
"Ezra! Give Faith here a tour. I'll talk to her more in a moment." The mentioned Mandalorian had yet to place her helmet back on yet and she looked towards Ezra with peaked interest.
"Yes Hera." Ezra said dejectedly, motioning for the Mandolorian to follow him up the ladder. Zeb chuckled as he gave Ezra a toothy grin.
Ezra just shot him a look but turned towards their new guest rather than respond. "You said your name was Faith?" He asked.
She nodded, extending a hand, "Yours was Ezra yes?"
Ezra shook her hand leading her through the hallway. "That's what they call me, the big purple guy is Zeb, you met Hera and that's Kanan next to her." The mentioned Jedi knight was in a deep conversation with Hera at the moment their backs turned to Ezra.
Faith didn't say anything, her only response being a slight dip of her head. Ezra continued not to be put off by her silence.
"Down this hall are our rooms, it's normally just us on the ship, but for this mission we had some help." They kept moving as Zeb threw himself into the chair at the table watching with dejected interest at the two humans.
"This is our common room." Ezra continued ignoring the Lassat.
Faith only followed along patiently as they continued through The Ghost she made no real comment or offered no conversation honestly it was starting to to get to Ezra if only ever so slightly but he left it to sit without acknowledgement.
"And this is the cockpit." He said spacing out but coming back to reality once they reached the front of the ship.
She nodded once again as she looked around, taking in the details of the modified cargo hauler.
"So you guys are the rumored rebel alliance." She finally said, breaking the silence.
Ezra was a bit taken aback by the sudden question but he quickly recovered, nodding in response. "Rumored?" He questioned raising an eyebrow.
"Well… I had heard stories but most of what I heard was 'terrorist' or insurgent attacks with no real hint of an actual organized rebellion." She responded carefully, meeting his gaze.
Ezra nodded, that sounded like the Empire. "Yeah, well we are a bit more than just unorganized terrorists."
Faith nodded, "That's what it seems like."
"I'm surprised that you even figured out we are a large connected alliance and not just a single cell." Ezra said, glancing back to the main room.
"There is more than just phoenix squad? How big is the Rebel alliance. When Hera spoke of it I did not gather it was a large scale rebellion simply a group of people getting started." Faith said, raising a brow.
Ezra paused for a moment, then mentally berated himself for revealing more than he had to, to a potential stranger. Too late now, if Hera trusted her enough to take her on a tour he supposed it wouldn't hurt to maybe build a little bit of trust.
Besides I still haven't told her he or Kanan was a Jedi. He thought tucking his lightsabre a little closer to his waist subconsciously.
"Yeah… I don't know a whole lot, but basically there are various cells throughout the galaxy, Phoenix Squadron is a part of this particular cell. And across the Galaxy are a lot of other cells, some bigger some larger." Ezra winced a little bit but the damage was done. All he could now was ride out and see what the consequences would be.
"Intriguing." Faith hummed, not commenting farther.
"Alright, we better get back, they'll be looking for us now." Ezra said, trying to move away from revealing anything else he probably shouldn't reveal.
"Alright, lead the way." She said letting him back in front of her.
Ezra led her back to the common room where Hera was already waiting, she gave him a brief nod of thanks before turning towards Faith. "So, we can't take you back to our base for obvious reasons but we can drop you off at a nearby world. Where was it you were trying to go?"
Faith looked uneasily about before dropping her head slightly. "I didn't really have anywhere to go… Just trying to find someplace I guess." She said carefully.
"What?" Hera said, sympathy already leaking into her voice.
"I'd been hopping around from planet to planet. I was recently in a scuffle with the Imperials out past curfew. They asked for my ID. I couldn't give it to them, they detained me and I was just planning to get off on whatever world they landed on."
She stared at the ground absentmindedly. "I don't have a home, if anything I'm a bounty hunter but I don't do much considering I don't even have a ship."
The room was silent again before she picked her head up and any sign of previous discomfort completely gone. "I know that I just met you guys but if there's a rebellion against the Empire, it seems to me I'm out of options so If you'll take me… I'd like to join you guys…"
The sudden offer surprised everyone, doubt instantly took hold of Zeb's face. Caution dominated Kanan's face. Ezra didn't really know what to think of the sudden request but all looked to Hera to see what it was she was planning to do.
"I don't know…" Hera said carefully. "It's a dangerous job, no guarantee you'll get out of each mission alive."
Faith nodded, "It's a place to get a meal, a place to surround myself with likeminded people. A place to survive. At least survive better than if I were to try to live on my own with no Imperial ID, No credits. I'm out of options Captain."
Hera nodded. "I'll have to talk to Commander Sato about this. It's not exactly an everyday thing that a Mandolorian asks to join the rebellion."
Faith cringed a little at the name assigned to her but she quickly replaced her mask of calmness before Ezra dared to comment on it. She simply gave Hera a look but remained silent.
Hera moved past her towards the cockpit area and that left Kanan, Ezra, and Zeb with the Mandolorian. Chop was nowhere to be found.
"Sooo." Ezra said, trying to break the tension. "You're going to join the rebels?" He asked.
"That was the idea…" She replied, dragging her gaze to meet Ezra's.
No one else added anything to that particular statement and they simply sat in rather awkward silence. Ezra raised a hand to try to continue the conversation but Hera chose that moment to return her neutral gaze and briefly passed each of them before resting on Faith.
"I don't entirely trust you yet. I did just meet you after all. However I am one for first impressions. We're going to return to our base. Do NOT leave this ship for any reason, we'll be given an assignment and you can come along with us to see how your skills are, then we can see where you'll be the most useful." Hera's eyes didn't leave Faith's waiting for a response.
"Understood Captain." She said formally.
Hera's shoulders relaxed and she smiled easily. "You can call me Hera dear… I'll talk to you after we come out of hyperspace." She dipped her head and disappeared through the door to the cockpit.
Once again Silence dominated the Cabin causing everyone to shift a little uneasily, believe it or not Zeb was the one to break the silence.
"So Faith you play Dejarik?" Zeb motioned to the board in front of him.
"Possibly." She was quick to respond.
"Wanna play a round?" Zeb asked his competitive edge to come through if only so slightly.
"Only if you are fine with losing, big guy." She teased a confident smile on her lips.
Ezra smirked. The longer Faith was in their company the more she proceeded to surprise him.
The flight to Alton was relatively uneventful and the arrival at the base was even more so.
The rebels quickly unloaded The Ghost and spent the duration of the time waiting for Hera's return in the main room watching Faith and Zeb play another round of Dejerik.
Faith was a rather good Dejerik player and although Zeb was also pretty mediocre she had bested him on more than one occasion. Ezra was greatly enjoying watching his bunkmate struggle against the Mandolorian.
Hera finally returned, raising a brow at the group gathered in the room, "Alright, Faith time to test your metal."
They all moved closer to Hera giving her their undivided attention as she tapped some commands into the Dejarik Board. An Imperial Outpost appeared before them and Hear began talking.
"This is an Imperial outpost in a nearby system, it's relatively new. One thing our supply mission didn't supply us with was fuel… So we're going to have to steal some from the outpost." Hera narrowed her gaze.
"We'll use a stolen Imperial shuttle again, to get into the base, once inside you're going to have to make your way to the control room and get those hangar doors under our control. Disable the AA Guns and jam the comms while you're at it." She paused, pointing to the back of the large room displayed.
"The Fuel should be in the back of the hanger, we'll swoop in, load it up, and then leave before Imperial reinforcements can be contacted." Hera said as the image disappeared and everyone nodded Their understanding.
"Alright Kanan and Ezra you pilot the shuttle, the three of us will remain here awaiting your signal." She looked to the Jedi who nodded in understanding.
"No questions?" She asked, looking around the whole group. After no response she gave a single nod and left towards the cockpit.
"Get some rest, we'll be there soon." She said disappearing out the doorway.
Kanan motioned towards Faith, "You can sleep in Hera's room." He said simply pointing to the room furthest down the hallway.
She nodded gratefully and Kanan said nothing else as he disappeared into his room, his door swishing shut without further words from the Jedi.
Ezra watched him go then turned back to Zeb and Faith deciding a conversation wouldn't hurt things. "So Faith… Erm, I feel like we don't know a whole lot about each other, I know I have questions but It'd be unfair for me to ask right away, if you wanna ask me and or Zeb a question and then you can answer a question. Kind of get to know each other." He tried giving her a look.
Zeb didn't say anything about being included in that category so he must have some sort of off put interest in learning about their mandolorian Friend as well.
Faith's blue eyes searched for him briefly before she spoke. "How old are you?"
Zeb let out something akin to a snort of amusement, Ezra shot him a glare before returning to Faith giving her question a temporary thought. "Seventeen." He answered evenly.
Faith nodded satisfied with that answer before leaning back giving them her nonverbal indication she was ready for their own questions.
"How old are you?" Ezra immediately asked before Zeb could ask some other question.
Faith shrugged, "Eighteen." She said simply.
"Ha! Still the youngest kid." Zeb teased Ezra lightly elbowing the boy.
The young jedi padawan rolled his eyes in return, crossing his arms as he did his best to ignore the Lassat. Focusing on Faith.
"How long have you guys been fighting the Empire?" She asked, her head tilting down slowly.
Ezra paused for a brief moment trying to come up with the answer to that particular question. "Ermmm. I've been fighting for about three years now… the crew as a whole?"
He glanced at Zeb for help, the Lassat only shrugged, this one was on him. "Maybe five or six?" His unsureness was rather evident and it clearly amused Zeb.
Faith let a smile on her lips leaning further back into her chair. "Alright what you got for me big guy."
Zeb raised his brow but asked a question nonetheless. "Why did you come out of that box guns blazing, coulda killed one of us."
Faith shrugged, no remorse present on her face at Zebs light accusation. "Didn't know who I was surrounded by just heard muffled voices, some blaster shots for all I knew could be pirates, thought it'd be better to come out guns ready then pop out slowly and get my head blown off."
Zeb didn't make another comment, just grunted. Ezra on the other hand was curious and eagerly waited for another question so he could get by and ask his own.
"Favorite Food." The simpleness of her question shocked Ezra a little bit but he shrugged.
"Zeb's Waffles." He said, cocking his head towards the mentioned Lassat.
"Really?" Zeb questioned an eyebrow raised to which Ezra gave him a firm nod.
"They actually taste pretty good, you're going to have to try them sometime." Ezra shrugged.
"I'll keep that in mind." Faith responded with a small amount of sarcasm dripping into her voice.
"Alright, how about where you got your amour from?" Ezra decided to push his luck a little bit to see where he could get with it.
Faith looked down as if she had forgotten she was wearing Manolorian armor until he mentioned it. "Passed down through my family for generations…" She said carefully. "I added my own touch as you can see." She said motioning towards the painted lines.
Ezra studied her armour in detail trying to figure out where he had seen the color pattern before. He recognized it from somewhere he just couldn't quite figure out where he had seen it before.
"Alright, if we're going deeper." Faith sat up a bit more fixing Ezra with a glare.
"What's a kid as young as you to get involved with a rebellion? She said tentatively.
Ezra sighed deeply, and ignored a concerned look from Zeb. "Parents were killed when I was about seven, I was on my own for a long while and finally I stumbled into The Ghost crew. They taught me what I know gave me a purpose." He shuffled his feet against the floor.
"Been fighting the Empire so that other kids don't have to go through what I did." He said, finally looking back up at the Mandalorian.
"That's rather courageous of you…" She said after a long pause, to which Ezra gave her a soft smile.
"What about you?" He asked, raising a brow Zeb kind of floating towards the back of his mind.
Faith paused for a moment, "The Empire took everything from me… My parents, my home, my clan, they left me with nothing… So I fled, I didn't see much other choice. Been on my own ever since…" She glanced up at him and silence filled the air before finally Zeb decided to break it.
"I'm going to take that rest Hera suggested, you kids try not to stay up to late." The Lassat said before leaving around the corner to his and Ezra's shared room.
Faith and Ezra looked at each other for a long moment before she stood up somberly. "See you tomorrow?" She asked maybe something akin to hope edging into her voice.
"You know it." Ezra responded with a soft smile grabbing hold of his face.
She returned his grin, and then turned down the hallway disappearing into the room she was offered for the night without any more words.
Ezra watched her go to his brow furrowing in thought. He couldn't recall any clans the Empire had completely wiped out. To his knowledge most of the clans were either in a civil war, or fighting for the Empire. He'd have to ask Sabine next time he saw her.
After All this new Mando's interesting past was just that… And Ezra wanted to know more about it.
A/N: Fun ride? I hope so. A little bit shorter than your used to sorry about that but I didn't really want to start the mission or give you more filler than this chapter already is.
Faith, we found out more about her, maybe enough for some of you smart cookies to guess her clan? Anyway we'll get more about her but next chapter the rebellion has a mission to complete, I made this mission up like I did the first one and I'd like to mention we will be getting back to following the events of the typical show soon, not quite yet.
Also if I got information wrong sue me, I think I got the years right but I screw up on a daily basis so it wouldn't be the first time.
Next chapter will be out Next Sunday ( 5th of December. ), which is going to become the day that I release on a weekly basis. That's all from me and I'll see you next december.
Don't forget to R&R ( I've gotten some serious support for this story and I couldn't be more appreciative love you guys 3 )
Stay safe!