Chapter 24
Children of the Watch
ATOLLON
The Phantom II landed outside the base with the Hera, Kanan, Zeb and Rex with a stretcher running to meet them, Turok and Corto were coming out of their ship to greet the shuttle. When it landed Hera didn't wait for the ramp to touch the ground when she saw Rau and Ezra follow Ahkilleon out holding Sabine in his arms "What did you do?" Hera snapped at Ahkilleon, "What did you do!" she barked as he came down the ramp.
"It wasn't the jedi, it was another Mandalorian, named Gar Saxon." Rau corrected as Ahkilleon laid Sabine out on the stretcher, Hera knelt down to look over Sabine the rot of the poisoned grappling hook had left black moldy scars on Sabine's chestplate, shoulder pads and greaves everything except her helmet that Ezra was holding was infected and it showed on her face. Pale, with veins blackening her eyes hazy when they did open with every breath sounding like it was her last.
Ignoring Hera's accusations Ahkilleon looked at Corto, the half kiffar, half night brother looked at Sabine's injuries "I don't get it, can't we just remove the armor?" Zeb asked.
"Do that and you'll flay her skin from her body." Rau explained, "What could do this to Beskar?" Rex asked.
Rau sighed "As I told the boys, Beskar's Bane, a weed with acidic properties the roots chew through solid ore, when refined like the ore it's a potent weapon against us, Mandalore the Persever reunite the clans, he purged Mandalore of the weed so it could never be used against us… or so we thought." Rau said.
Corto placed his hands on Sabine's armor and closed his eyes, a bead of sweat formed over his brow and ran down his cheek "Corto?" Ahkilleon asked.
"I'm trying this isn't like mending bones or regrowing flesh…" he gasped before he took a deep breath "Dammit."
"What, what is it?" Hera asked.
Corto shook his head "This is beyond my skill to heal, if we get her to Arcadia my Master and the healers there could help her."
"Go to Arcadia?" Ezra asked aloud.
"Turok, get the ship ready." Ahkilleon said to the trandoshan, "It won't work, the armor isn't like your force, it's not a living thing as you say sure you could take the armor off her but it would be agonizing and she may not survive." Rau told them head bowed.
Ahkilleon looked at Corto like the rest. "In theory he's not wrong, the armor can't be saved but we can save her. I could feel the poison chewing through the beskar. It was like a rot in a tree." Corto said looking down at Sabine, he stood holding his hand out as if offering them their only chance.
"Sabine's a Mandalorian, her armor is as close to her as her soul, take away her armor and you've destroyed her." Ahkilleon told him, Corto held his hands up "I'm just being practical brother, that poison is working fast it's already in her blood every second we waste it gets deeper." Corto said sadly.
Ezra looked at Rau, "What about those Watchers- uh Children of the Watch you said they could help?"
"The Children of what?" Zeb asked.
*BURP*
"Bunch of religious nutjobs if you ask me?" They all looked to see Korkie stumbling his way toward them, he leaned on a crate "What's all the commotion, I was taking a nap?" he asked as he took his helmet off yawning.
Rau cocked a brow at him, "Korkie… Kryze, is that you?"
"Do I know you?" Korkie asked.
"Fenn Rau, Leader- former Leader of the Protectors of Concord Dawn, I knew your aunt, for a time?" He said as Korkie walked over, he looked down at Sabine "Whats her problem?"
Ahkilleon stood and looked at him "She's been poisoned with Beskar Bane, her own armor is eating her alive, the Children of the Watch what do you know?"
Korkie scratched his thick stubble, "Like all the warriors, they were exiled to Concordia, a moon of Mandalore, their all cloistered there with all the other so called 'warriors'" he said holding up quotes.
"Then we go to Concordia, ask for their help?" Ezra said smiling seeing they had a solution.
"Right." Ahkilleon said in agreement.
Hera held onto Sabine's hand and she looked at Sabine the same way she would look at her own flesh and blood, "... We can't."
"What did you say Hera?" Kanan asked in astonishment.
Hera looked up at everyone "I want to save Sabine as much as anyone, but if what you told us in your transmission was true you already encountered Mandalorians loyal to the Empire, Gar Saxon right?"
"The Viceroy of Mandalore." Rau told her.
Korkie spat when he heard the name "Traitorous bastard."
"Then… this is more than just poison, he's trying to draw us out to Mandalore, what are the chances he knows these Children can heal him?" Hera asked Rau.
Rau closed his eyes and nodded, saying that that's exactly what Gar would know "No, no, no, we can't just do nothing." Ezra said in protest, pushing the helmet into Kanan's hand and kneeling beside Ahkilleon.
"I'm not saying we won't, Turok, Corto, can you promise us safe passage to Arcadia to these healers?" she asked them.
"You will be more than welcome, Captain." Turok said to her, "I'll alert my Master to tell the Council to expect you." Corto said getting up and running to the Revenant.
Ezra looked at Sabine. Her skin looked thin, papery even the color drained from her face "If you do this Hera, Sabine will hate you forever." Ahkilleon told her as the rebels got her stretcher up and started to carry her to the Ghost. "Don't you act like you know her better than I do, and even if she does hate me at least she'll be alive." Hera said as the rest of the rebels followed her to the Ghost.
Turok stood with Ahkilleon and sighed "I know that look, your parents had the same one, what terrible idea are you thinking of."
"Sabine would rather die than lose her armor." Ahkilleon said firmly, "You heard Hera, it's sound strategy by this Gar fella, a poison you have and you know where it can be healed, not to mention it helps being a governor of an entire system." Turok said scratching his chin "If only we knew of a very powerful man with a very powerful fleet who owed that girl a big ol'favor?" Turok asked with a smirk.
Ahkilleon looked at him "Come on lad, I know you were thinking of it."
"This will piss off my Master." Ahkilleon said.
"It'll piss off the entire Militia, which is why I endorse it." Turok said, patting him on the shoulder "You're going full rebel?" Ahkilleon asked.
Turok shrugged "What can I say our ragtag band of outcasts grows on you after a bit." Turok said as he headed to the Revenant, "Send Beetoo to the Ghost, I need him". Ahkilleon headed over to the Ghost where the rebels had already put Sabine in Hera's room where she was knelt over her body putting a damp cloth on Sabine's head to fight her fever. Ahkilleon reached for his sabers and then looked at his hands before lowering them "I can save her."
"... I doubt that." Hera said as she placed a blanket over Sabine even as she did, small patches of blood were seeping into the sheets.
Ahkilleon held his breath, "Even if we go to Arcadia, you won't even be allowed to land."
"Really, after all of that posturing from you and Turok wanting us to join the Militia, we finally agree to go and you don't want us too?"
"Turok is known in the Militia, revered even, he knows the landing codes, but you and the Specters aren't, but there is another way." Ahkilleon said stepping into the room, "Sabine is owed a debt of honor by Admiral Trench, he leads the Cyberspider fleet the second largest fleet in the Militia, I know Trench will honor that debt."
Hera stood up and looked at him.
She stepped toward him "If you even think we'd consider working alongside that war criminal-" "To save Sabine's life?" Ahkilleon asked, stepping forward inches from her face, unafraid of her scorn or enmity. "I don't care if you don't like me, you can hate me forever like the rest but let me at least save Sabine." Ahkilleon asked her.
The other rebels were starting to hear the argument, Kanan stood outside the door, Zeb on the other side, Ezra started to walk to it when Kanan stopped him "Wait."
"What about your other jedi, Corto, he said his Master could heal her?" Hera asked.
"He said she could maybe heal Sabine, but healing is a nearly lost art there's no guarantee, but Rau's led these Children of the Watch, their her people, if they can master beskar then they have to know a way to purify it, am I making sense?" Ahkilleon asked Hera, she looked back at Sabine.
Hera looked at his face once more, "Talk?" Hera asked. Ahkilleon looked back at the rebels in the doorway each of them with looks of contempt and distrust, except Kanan who's eyes were hidden by his visor.
"Gar Saxon knows we'll try to save Sabine, he'll be waiting for us to try and go to the Mandalore system which is exactly what we'll do, but not alone." Ahkilleon said to them as Beetoo rolled into the Ghost, he used Chopper lift to get to the second floor and rolled past them, Ahkilleon knelt down to the droid and started to press a few buttons "Sabine saved Admiral Trench, he owes her a life debt and he will repay it."
Beetoo started to send out a signal, "Ghost protocol, mask our broadcast location." Ahkilleon told the droid.
"You're okay with this, weren't you on the other side of the war with Trench?" Ezra asked Rex.
Rex shrugged "Considering what we went through on Agamar, and if it can help Sabine, we should hear him out." Rex said.
"So what is your plan anyway?" Zeb asked.
Ahkilleon looked at them all "We go to Mandalore, draw out the Imperial fleet away from the planet and it's moon, I'll take the Revenant down with Sabine aboard and find the Children?"
"You want us to attack Mandalore?" Rex asked.
"Not Mandalore, the Imperial fleet, Gar Saxon is the Viceroy of Mandalore but he is also a Mandalorian if he wants his people to see him a their leader he has to answer an attack on his own system or else he'll be seen as weak." Ahkilleon explained "In the chaos all the plants focus will be on the Militia, not Concordia."
Hera looked at Kanan and the rest of her crew, "it could work, but we'll take Sabine down in the Ghost."
"No, the Ghost needs to be in the attack, it'll make Gar think he's got Sabine right where he wants her, but no one knows the Revenant except Militia forces." Ahkilleon countered.
Hera looked back at Sabine again and bit her lip, "Fine, but you're not taking her down there yourself, someone is going with you."
"We'll take Rau and Korkie, they know more about the Children then we do, if they see us travelin with them they may not shoot first, considering the Jedi's history with Mandalorians." Ahkilleon said in agreement.
"You'll need Zeb and Rex here to man the guns, Ezra and I will go with Ahkilleon to Concordia." Kanan said volunteering.
Beetoo beeped to let them know the signal was ready, "Then it's settled, we go to Mandalore."
HYPERSPACE
Cyberspider Fleet
The Ghost and the Revenant were inside the hangar of Trench's flagship, the Admiral stood outside both ships as their crews came down, Trench had his cane held by both his lower arms the others at his side with one holding a pipe to smoke out of, "Welcome my boy, click-click-click it has been to long." Trench said greeting Ahkilleon first who briskly walked toward him, he gave him a Militia salute with one of his free arms and Ahkilleon returned it, "Thank you Admiral, really I can't thank you enough."
The rebels approached him and Hera had a skeptical look on her face, "Think nothing of it my boy, click-click-click, I owe this one a debt." Trench said as Ezra and Kanan took Sabine over to the Revenant, there Jay and Rulf helped them get inside.
"Admiral, what exactly is your plan?" Hera asked.
Turning to her, the cyborg spider replied "The Imperial fleet of Mandalore will not be able to resist our presence for long, click-click-click we will use primary droid fighters to minimize our casualties click-click-click." Trench said as he gestured over to a squad of familiar Dragoons.
"I'm click-click-click giving you command of my Dragoon regiment, click-click-click you remember Commander Sparta." Trench said as the soldier approached.
Sparta had his helmet under his arm, his brown leather jacket and sword slung over his back, the droids were at the sides of the rest of his crew, Jetstream, Vandal and Bear. Ahkilleons astro droid rolled up to them the blue and yellow droid beeping at the others who beeped back in greetings. Chopper then rolled up the short squat droid looking at them all, Sparta's crimson and black droid rolled up the R5 unit let out a low beep before Chopper rammed into it, what followed were all the other Dragoons astro droids rushing Chopper and knocking him over. The rest piling on ramming their bodies into the droid like they were kicking him. "Enough." Sparta said before the droids backed off.
Hera slapped her forehead "We don't have time for this Chopper." The droid beeped back "I don't care who started it, you trashcan- Admiral, you're the last person I want to be working with here, but can you guarantee the Militia's droids can hold out against a full Imperial fleet?"
Trench scratched his chrome metal mandible "Commander, click-click-click we will do more than that." Trench said as the fleet dropped out of hyperspace into the Mandalore system.
In the distance they could see the small spec of Mandalore and its moons, along with a fleet of five star destroyers closing on them "Time to go." Ahkilleon said heading to the ship, Rau and Korkie were already abroad in the bay and Ezra was up in the medical bay with Sabine when Ahkilleon boarded.
Admiral Trench tapped his cane then again, and again and again, his crew started to gather around "What's this?" Zeb asked him as the rest of the Militia soldiers and droids started to do the same, some stomped, some beat their armor, droids their chassis.
The Militia all beagn to hum along with the rythmic beat, "This lasat, is the warsong of the Cyberspider fleet."
A dozen droids came out each of them holding a strange long string instrument, "Is that a droid… orchestra?" Rex asked. Trench held out his arms and opened his mouth wide, and the Admiral started to sing.
Sudagana homouseyay ehanaa
Klugan exusani mousi cahanaa
Mogluingly hassi gala mou hanna, chosoogana tandamoto tamboushoo
Tamboushoo
Moudenaga seegna mooska booskinaa
Mogodeng chugady bougheegergen bourinæ
Mogocheyady suggajeyadi mousanaa, chagadin taga schtitzelin togo yishyina. Yishensu
Mou houlingting gaan Sugaan Essena
Mou houlingting gaan Sugaan Essena
While the droids started to draw bows across the string Trench and his men started to sing with him their chorus was a deep gurgling throat song.
Houcshelin childen seeldin savaa bousanaa
Plouganyishya sody yiddy to the yishyinaa
Kischeldin sava whoodlang eeshya shishenaa
Chwildie shkisheldi saucilling giggity sishikenaa. sishikenaa
Vulture droids started to take off and form battle positions while the army sang, in the Star Destroyers approaching the ships they started to pick up the broadcast, Gar Saxon was aboard the lead ship, he could hear the Militia war song, "Cut the transmission move into attack position." Gar said walking forward helmet under his arm "Where are you, Ghost?"
Ghygon queshin segergon boulong gyishyinaa
Geghoulogny wasaldi moosha butzikina
Kouleng gisingnen taken hobso boughhana
Mogoleng neegey shchocholeng tseegey bhooikic naan
Bhooikic naan
Mou houlingting gaan Sugaan Essena
Mou houlingting gaan Sugaan Essena
Wghhoohooh, schigigi ganching gaan
Mou houlingting gaan Sugaan Essena
Hera walked up into her ship the Ghost and got into the cockpit, with half of her usual crew gone, Turok and Rulf took their seats in the top and lower gunner chair, Rex the nose gun with chopper in the back. The Dragoons under Sparta got into their interceptors and they started to take off flying over Trench.
Hiyoo hiyoo
Hiyoo hiyoo
Hiyoo hiyoo
Hiyoo hiyoo
Chiceding hiyoo
Hiygin hiyoo
Pudygin hiyoo
Bhugydin hiyoo
Hiyoo hiyoo
Hiyoo hiyoo
Hu hu hu hu hu hu hu hu hu hu hu hu hu hu hu hu
The Militia fleet moved into attack position and the battle began.
CONCORDIA
The Revenant flew down to the surface of the moon, it dropped below the clouds and deactivated its stealth drive, its snow capped mountains were surrounded by thick heavy rain clouds and in the distance storms flashed lightning. Ahkilleon flew over the misty forests, the jetstream of the ship blowing past the fog, "Someone is bound to see us, you should fly back into the clouds." Ezra told Ahkilleon from the copilot seat.
"That's the idea, Rau, where can we find the Children?" Ahkilleon asked.
Rau sat in the gunner seat, "With any luck they already saw our ship coming down, during the first Civil War, the warriors of Mandalore were exiled to this moon."
"Why weren't you here?" Kanan asked him.
Rau snickered "The Protectors were long gone after the civil war, but the Children they serve only Mandalore, when Clan Kryze the ruling family exiled the warriors to Concordia they claimed they all died out, they were wrong."
"The Deathwatch took root here, and led to the second Civil War." Korkie said his helmet propped up as he drank from a flask and spat out some backwash.
Rau gave a scoff "Indeed."
Suddenly they heard a heavy thud, then several "What the-"
They looked up to see tapping on the glass of the cockpit were the three barrels of a heavy rotary cannon that was held by a very large, very heavily armored Mandalorian, the rest of the thuds were more of his kind. "The Children?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Them or some offshoot, I don't recognize their armor." Rau said as Ahkilleon flew the ship down to a nearby clearing, if that wasn't the demand of the Mandalorains pointing blasters right at them through the glass wasn't clear enough for them to land. As the Revenant touched down the Mandalorians literally on the ship waited till the ramp lowered before the big blue one jumped off with a jetpack flanked by two more warriors, while his armor was varying shades of blue the others were wearing reddish brown or faded green with mix in of other armor. "Let us me do the talking, get Sabine ready to travel." Rau told them as they walked out of the cockpit.
"Are we sure we can trust them, considering the last Mandalorians we met weren't so friendly?" Ezra asked.
Korkie slipped his dirty helmet on "The loth rat has a point." he burped.
"I trust Rau." Kanan said.
"So would Sabine, come on Ezra." Ahkilleon said heading for the medical bay "Don't tell me what to do." Ezra growled at Ahkilleon as Kanan, Rau and Korkie walked out.
Rau held his hands up "I am Fenn Rau of the Protectors we come in seek of aid." He said removing his helmet to show his face.
"You are not welcome here Protector, by 'imperial' decree." The heavy infantry Mandalorian told him to lift his blaster.
Korkie and Kanan's hands went to their weapons, "Your Children of the Watch are you not, I thought the Children only served Mandalore?" Korkie asked.
"Gar Saxon rules Mandalore in the Empire's name, and we protect our own, this is the way." The heavy said finger on the trigger, "Is it also the way to turn away fellow Mandalorians in need, one our own is wounded a youngling?" Rau asked.
Ezra and Ahkilleon brought Sabine down on the stretcher, her helmet was laid on her chest and when he saw her; the heavy took his finger off the trigger and the other Mandos looked at one another under their helmets, "Bring her here." He commanded. The boys carried the stretcher with their wounded comrade up to him and he looked down at her.
"She was poisoned with something called Beskar Bane, her armor it's… it's-" "Eating her alive." the heavy backed away and held his blaster up "Leave, she and you others are apostates." the heavy said.
"You can't just-" "Her armor could infect us all." The heavy said backing up with the others.
When a fight was sure to break out the heavy lifted his finger to his helmet getting a signal, "... The armorer will decide her fate." the heavy said holstering the blaster over his back and turning around, heading into the thick foggy covered woods.
The four of them walked up a narrow path, before they started to see more Mandalorians in the trees, some in the branches, soon the dirt turned into stone steps to an old castle, the ancient fortress was shrouded in mist with a stone base and high walls covered in dried out shingles, as they drew closer as if coming out of the mist did the Children appear. They were all Mandalorians armored head to toe in beskar, but unlike the pilots of the Protectors or the Imperial Supercommandos their armor were all different, unique, there were red, blue, orange black, green some were even multicolored like Sabines. And like Sabine when she was well they were armed, heavily armed.
The blue heavy infantry Mandalorian led them through two great wooden doors, into the castle, where they saw even more Mando's, also armed like they were already expecting a fight. In the corners of the castle's keep, and from the upper floors, Ahkilleon saw snipers with their scopes trained on him and the others "I don't like this." Ezra said carrying Sabine's stretcher from behind Ahkilleon, "Be quiet." Ahkilleon told him.
"Let's all whisper, it'll make us look more suspicious." Korkie said in front of them with Rau.
"Shhh." Rau ordered them his helmet hiding his face.
The large blue mando stopped and turned around, "Surrender your weapons."
"What?" Ezra asked.
"We have already given you entry into our sanctuary as strangers, surrender them or they will be taken, this is the way." He swung his heavy blaster cannon around to show he meant business and all of the Mandalorians almost over a hundred primed their own weapons showing it wasn't a request but a command.
Ahkilleon looked at Ezra along with the others, "Fine."
The rebels set Sabine down on the ground and she winced as they removed their weapons, other Mandalorians came up to take them, and the heavy mandalorian left the courtyard going into the keep via a sliding paper door, he reemerged shortly and pointed at Ezra and Ahkilleon,
"You two bring the injured girl." he ordered.
Ezra looked at Kanan, "Go, we'll be fine."
Ezra and Ahkilleon picked Sabine up off the ground and carried her stretcher into the ruins of the castle; they walked through narrow hallways that barely kept the big Mando from breaking through them, because he was so big. Before they came to a large stone archway where they saw a doorway guarded by two more Mandalorians.
"The armor is waiting." the heavy said.
Ezra and Ahkilleon carried Sabine through the doorway into a large inner hall, no, a church? It had pillars on each side with the very back of the room a stainglass window where a Mandalorian warrior with a golden mask in red robes road a mighty Basalisk wardroid with a great ax in hand, at it's base they saw the outline of a Mandalorian with a hammer smashing it against an anvil, a forge unlike anything they had ever seen stood in the center of the room. "When I heard foreigners had landed on our moon, I expected smugglers, and yet Jedi and Mandalorains traveling together, such a thing has not come to pass since the days of the Old Republic?" She spoke with a stoic voice, and when she turned her armor was also different as she wore a thick fur lined cape with a burgundy breastplate, leather around her waist and down to her knees and her helmet, a golden one with a black visor with a crown of short spikes. "Bring her to me."
She gestured to her feet and both boys did as she was ordered and laid Sabine at the feet of the Mandalorian Forge, and the mysterious woman. "I am called the Armorer. I lead this Tribe." she said to them, "My people have told me that she has beskar bane, her armor has been corrupted." the Armor walked over to Sabine and knelt on both knees looking her over she hovered her hands as if she could use the force to commune with the armor pulling back the blanket Ezra and Ahkilleon tensed to see the color of Sabine's armor had changed again the paint had started to turn black and the mold was growing on every piece of it now. Even Sabine's helmet had started to show the mold around the face.
"Can you help her?" Ezra asked.
The Armor picked up Sabine's helmet with her leather gloves, the rot had spread to around half of it and she took it over to the forge, she turned it on and a ring of flames shot up around a bowl of beskar iron, she held the helmet over the fire and the paint began to peel and chip away, the beskar began to shine under it but when the fire touched the rot of Beskar Bane it hissed and crackled. The Armor took the helmet back "This is a potent posion, who was her enemy?"
"Gar Saxon, and his Imperial Supercommandos." Ahkilleon said to the armorer.
"Clan Saxon are kraven and cutthroats, they have forgotten the way… to answer your question Jedi, yes I can save her but why should I?" the Armor asked.
"What?" Ahkilleon asked stepping forward, Ezra got between them "What he means is why, she's Mandalorian like you."
The Armor set the helmet down on a workbench, "She is, and she is not, we are Children of the Watch my Tribe in particular follow the old way, you bring this child to us uncovered."
"Wait, Mandalorians aren't supposed to take off their helmets?" Ezra asked.
The Armorer nodded "This is the Way, she and the ones with you are apostates no better than Gar Saxon, unless you can prove otherwise."
"Otherwise?" Ezra asked looking at Sabine who was looking more and more like a corpse "E-Ezra… Ahkilleon…?" She asked starting to wake up, her eyes were glassed over as she looked around hazy. Ezra dropped to his knees "I'm here Sabine."
"Where are we…?" She asked.
Ezra took her hand squeezing it "Mandalore, at least one of the moons don't try to talk, rest we'll fix you, I promise." Ezra said as the Armorer walked around and looked her over.
Sabine grunted coughing, drops of blood ran across her lips "The poison is in her blood, there is little hope she can survive."
"No, there's always hope." Ahkilleon said stepping forward, "We came here, for that hope she fights for that hope." Ahkilleon pointed to Sabine who had passed out again.
The Armorer raised her gilded helmet at them, "This one is known to us, from wanted posters, do you know of her past."
"We do, and we don't care, she's family to me." Ezra said looking up at her, the Armorer looked to Ahkilleon "And to you, warrior?"
Ahkilleon stiffened "That and more."
The Armorer looked at the two boys and walked over to the work bench she picked up a pare of tongs and pointed them at them, "Will-you-help?" Ezra asked once more.
"... This is the way." She said as she pressed a button on her work bench a few moments later the large heavy Mandalorian and two more of the Tribe came in, "Paz Vizla, take her to the sacred pool, I will join you shortly."
The heavy named Paz Vizla stiffened, "The sacred pool holds the Living Waters of Mandalore, out only source of the water you would waste it on a apostate her beskar bane will poison it."
"She must be purified in order to save her armor and her life, she is of Clan Vizsla is she not?" The Armorer asked.
Ahkilleon nodded "House Wren."
"Then she is of your own clan, Paz, this is the way." the armorer said again.
The Armorer grunted "This is the way, as is alerting the Imperial garrison of the trespassers, they are on their way here in force a fill company with a squad of apostates." apostates, that meant stormtroopers and Imperial Supercommandos.
"You what!" Ahkilleon barked, before Ezra got between him and Paz "As angry as he is, I have to agree, why did you do that?" Ezra snapped.
The Armorer held her hand up to stop Paz from speaking "We hold no allegiance to the Empire, but we must do what is best for our people, you are trespassers here however your fleet has all ships sent to assist in Gar Saxons fleet, they will travel here on foot which gives us time to heal your companion and for you to delay them. Your time is short, sorcerers."
"I'll go, alone." Ahkilleon said as he held up his wrist communicator, "Beetoo move the Revenant to my location, keep the engines running for a quick get away jam any and signals in the area." Ahkilleon said heading to the door.
Ezra looked down at Sabine and then saw Paz come to pick her up "Careful- Hey you can't just go alone, and leave her."
"I have to and I'm not you and the others will stay here." Ahkilleon said as he headed to the exit "As soon as Sabine is ready to move you go, roger, roger?" he asked.
"No roger, roger you heard the big blue mando he said a full garrison with Supercommandos, that's an entire army you'll die." Ezra said following Ahkilleon through the church's archway. Ahkilleon kept walking "Then I'll die."
They walked out into the hallway, "I'll come with you-" "You have to stay, you have to look after her if I don't come back."
"This isn't about her, this is about your own glory it's always been about your own glory you sanctimonious p-" Ahkilleon whirled around fist raised.
THOK
Ahkilleon punched Ezra so hard he fell to the ground "I will not loose her and you, or any of my friends!" he yelled at Ezra who was bleeding from a cut lip "Not while I'm alive, not when I got my lightsabers." he growled leaving the keep behind.
He walked out into the courtyard and the lightsabers that were being held by the Children of the Watch's sentries flew to his hands, blasters were raised "There's an imperial garrison heading out way, my ship will land soon, when Sabine is ready to travel you all go."
"You expect us to run?" Rau asked.
"Okay." Korkie said shrugging.
Rau glared at Korkie, "I owe it to Sabine to-" "No." Kanan said stopping Rau, "We'll get her to safety." Kanna told Ahkilleon.
The young jedi gave a nod before he passed out of the gate and saw the Revenant was about to land, Ahkilleon ran down the stone trail and into the woods, following the force and the sound of the imperial soldiers marching their direction. Back at the castles gates, the other four watched him disappear into the mist Ezra had come out wiping the blood from his lip scowling "You're just going to let your brother face this alone."
"... he's no brother of mine." Ezra muttered heading back into the fortress.
Kanan didn't turn to watch his apprentice go, "If we're seen here, Rau will know we've made it to the Children, if they just see Ahkilleon it'll look like he's alone." Kanan said clenching his fist tight "So his plan calls for him to fight alone?" Rau said, scoffing.
Down in the valley Ahkilleon trampled over brush and wet rocks, the mist parting before him, his helmet covered in small droplets of water, his breath coming out from under it fogging up the breastplate, he ran and ran faster and faster till he came to the ledge. He could hear the mass of imperial troops moving through the trees in the lowlands, panting; he took a deep breath and centered himself.
He had to focus.
He had to go to a place he hadn't dared to be in since he fought the two Inquisitors at the old Republic Medical station.
He couldn't be a Jedi.
No he had to become a beast.
He had to embrace the other side in a way he had never done before.
All of his anger.
All of his pain.
All of his sorrow.
Channel it, channel it, channel it.
Down in the valley a sea of stormtroopers were marching double time to the Tribe's stronghold, a squad of four Imperial Supercommandos were among them. Each one was marked with a crimson shoulder pauldron showing they were officers. As they marched the birds all around them suddenly took flight, animals from the wild ran past the column of troops and they heard why "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" One at the front stopped holding his fist up as the roar made all the Imperials hold their blasters up the scream echoing all around them.
"Scouts forward." The commanding Supercommado ordered, a dozen scout troopers hurried forward and ran into the thicket of brush and trees sinking into the mist.
They fanned out blasters raised looking for any sign of who or what made the furious roar.
One of them turned his back on the other and looked back "See anything-" but there was no one there just the scouts blaster "Where-"
SNAP
The scouts head spun around followed by the snapping of his neck before it all went dark. The other scouts heard the neck breaking and the sound of a body hitting the ground hurrying over one was pulled up into the trees by invisible ropes screaming before he was silenced. The other nine quickly formed a circle blasters out in a full three sixty degree range of everything. A shadow dropped between them and they heard the sounds of energy weapons being activated.
Back at the main force, the supercommando heard their screams, and then again.
Silence.
Footsteps.
Wobbly scrambled footsteps echoed toward them, the stormtroopers raised their blasters and a lone scout came running out holding a burned stub of what remained of his arm severed at the bicep, "Help me- Help-" the whole company watched the scout trooper ripped from the ground sucked back into the mist screaming for his life- silence.
"Battle positions!" the lead Supercommando shouted, the company fanned out and started to close ranks, some forming a firing line, others getting behind trees and boulders, the commander signaled the other three Mandalorians to take to the sky with their jetpacks. The stormtroopers looked at the surrounding trees waiting for an ambush, to their left they could hear something breaking through the trees cold wet branches "LOOK OUT!" A massive tree severed at the trunk crashed through the treetops breaking more branches crashing into the middle of the stormtroopers. "Hold positons!" the supercommando shouted. One of the stormtroopers saw something moving, "Contact-contact!' he shouted opening fire the blasters started to ring out splitting through the mist, the noise carrying back to the Fortress where the rebels were watching.
Ahkilleon crouched behind a large boulder that was being pelted with random panic fire from the stormtroopers, he had his hands on his sabers but kept them off, he wasn't shaking or trembling he was simply waiting eyes wide heart racing ready for them to say "Ceasefire."
Leaping up with the force he backflipped over the mist and landed in the center of them, when the stormtroopers turned around the saw flashes of red and blue, Ahkilleons twin sabers hacking and slashing through the white armor limbs and burnt flesh went flying everywhere as he ran through them to the other side of the trail. Blaster fire blazed behind him as he vanished into the trees to come hack another tree with his blue saber. It fell down toward the stormtroopers, dividing them even more Ahkilleon ran back down and stabbed one of the stormtroopers and used his body as a human shield as the others opened fire, he rammed the lightsabers into the second one and a third before he slashed all of them to pieces. He force blasted six more stormtroopers into the trees. Then at the ones behind he unleashed a blast of force lightning incinerating them.
Inside the keep deep within the Tribe's fortress Ezra watched Sabine be carried into another chamber, lit by brazers of orange flame, at the center of the room there was a pool of water lined with colored stones, inside the pool Ezra holding Sabine helmet, could see the pattern of a creature with a long snout and two long curved in horns, the Armorer approached Paz "Give her to me." she held out her arms and Ezra watched as the armorer took Sabine in her arms. Despite being half the size of Paz it was clear the Mandalorian Armorer was stronger than she appeared.
"Her helmet." she said to Ezra as, Paz inserted a stimpack into Sabine's arm to keep her awake.
"But the poison-" "Will be purified, and so will she when she is bathed in the living waters new life will be breathed into her." the armorer said at the edge of the pool. Ezra looked at the hemet and he walked forward slowly slipping it onto Sabine's head, every inch it scraped past her head she winced in pain. Ezra slid it on with a final push and Sabine winced again before the Armorer stepped into the water, Ezra watched as the Armorer walked down into living waters with Sabine and even through the walls of the castle he could hear the fighting in the distance.
When he looked forward to the Armorer, Paz was standing in front of him, "Outsiders are forbidden from witnessing the purification." The Armorer said "This is the way." Paz said.
Ezra tensely left the room and walked out into the courtyard, he headed over to Rau and Kanan who were at the walls looking down into the cloud of mist to see flashes of explosions and could hear echoing blaster fire. "We should be down there." Kanan said to Ezra.
The padawan crossed his arms "He wants to do it alone, get himself killed fine."
"I know you don't mean that." Kanan said to him.
"You heard his oh so perfect 'plan'." Ezra grumbled.
Down in the valley of death, Ahkilleon was surrounded on all sides by deflecting blasters before he blasted a hole in their lines with a force push running back into the trees the stormtroopers chased after him. "Hold your position!" the lead Supercommando said, "Rockets!" he ordered, his three commandos bent over and launched rockets from their jetpacks into the tree line, Ahkilleon looked back to see three rockets blasting the ground up behind him, he avoided the first two but the third erupted at the edge of his heels sending him flying. He crashed into the base of a large tree. If he hadn't been wearing armor his ribs would have been shattered but it still hurt.
"Uuh…" he gasped, getting to his feet.
Head spinning he could see them coming up the hill, getting to his feet Ahkilleon ran to the left "I got-" Ahkilleon blasted him with the force sending him flying out the tree line, drawing his lightsabers he ran back into the fray.
Back in the keep, in the pool of living waters, Paz Vizla watched as the Armorer lowered Sabine into the water letting her be submerged, she struggled and the Armorer held her down "Breath through your helmet young one, breath." The water began to turn and the beskar bane rot started to bubble and crackle on the armor.
Paz stepped forward "The living waters are being poisoned on this apostate-" "It is not the way to abandon our own." the Armorer told Paz "She is-not-our-own." Paz growled.
"She is of Clan Wren, Clan Wren is loyal to House Vizsla are they not?"
"That's besides the matter at hand, this was all we had of our Living Waters, it-" "Will save a child's life, what greater purpose could it serve." The Armorer said as she reached into the water and pulled off Sabine's breastplate, Sabine's helmet rose from the water and breathed easier as the armorer began to remove the armor piece by piece "Bring me my tools."
In the woods, Ahkilleon was leading the imperials away from the keep, the four jetpack supercommandos hounding him with the remaining company of stormtroopers chasing after him as he ran up another hill, he cut down trees left and right to have them crush stormtroopers behind him or block their path. One of the supercommandos sent a grappling hook at Ahkilleon, it warped around his arm but before it could go taught Ahkilleon sliced it and then grabbed it, he yanked on the severed cord just before the supercommando could pull up and severed his head from his shoulders. "More…" Ahkilleon said before he turned again to face the army and ran back down hill "SEND ME MORE!"
He crashed into the main force again using his close range to slice and slash without any restraint, his anger, his pain, his sorrow fueled every swing of his sabers, his focus was on nothing but ending every last one of them. His knowledge of knowing the gaps in their armor, or that the stormtroopers helmet obscured their vision at close range, his skill using the elevated terrain to his advantage to gain speed.
There wasn't anything else he would focus on.
Just swinging his lightsaber.
Kill them.
Kill them all.
Far above in space, the battle continued "Hold position click-click-click, raise deflector shields and click-click-click send out two more squadrons." Trench ordered from the command bridge The cannons opened fire on the star destroyers blasting TIE fighters and the destroyers hauls. Out in the dogfights the Ghost was flanked on each side by the dargoon fighters Vandal and Jetstream, "I'm going to punch a hole, follow me in."
"Roger, Roger Ghost." Jetstream replied while they broke through the imperial lines and flew around the flagship.
Gar ran up to the window "That one, I want that ship brought to me now, I've got you Wren." Gra said, falling for the ruse. Back in the Ghost hera's ship was starting to get bombarded by cannon fire "Shields are taking a beating, Chopper any word from Concordia?"
Down on the moon's surface Canon was getting a holo transmission from the Ghost on a datapad, "Any word of Sabine's condition?" Hera asked.
"We found the watch, but I don't know how long it'll take." Kanan said when he heard another explosion.
"What was that?" Hera asked.
Kanan sighed "It's Ahkilleon the Children alerted the Empire we're here, Ahkilleon is holding them off."
"Alone?" Hera asked, "Why aren't you helping?" she asked.
"Because we may need to make a quick escape, this was the only way the Children of the Watch won't be massacred like my men." Rau said firmly.
Hera banked right away from some TIE fighters, just as Sparta came around taking them out in his own interceptor, "I'm not sure how much longer the Militia can hold out or how long until the Imperials figure out this is all a ruse."
"We'll keep you updated as soon as we're in the air." Kanan said.
"Ghost out." She said cutting the transmission as they heard the echoes of combat.
Rau looked into the thick mist, squeezing his helmet firmly "For centuries the Jedi and the Mandalorains have been bitter rivals, and even when I stand by your side I still don't understand your kind. You preach protecting life but at the same time charge head forward into wars with impossible odds."
"I could say the same thing about Mandalorians, you all say you're unified by your clans and creeds, but I've never met a more divisive person who values their freedom above all things, wouldn't you agree?" Kanan asked.
They heard Korkie burp behind them "You forgot how we tend to have others fight our battles for us." He snickered.
"Do you ever stop drinking?" Kanan asked, Korkie burped his response.
Both men looked back at the keep to see Ezra pacing outside the main doorway guarded by the Tribe's warriors, he was pacing impatiently rubbing his hands, "What happened between your boys, doesn't take a jedi to see there's a history."
Kanan leaned on the battlements, "Now that's a long story, the short story is that Ahkilleon was the first real person Ezra could call a friend, a brother even if you believe in blood oaths."
"I do." Rau said.
"The two of them killed a Nexu together on Saleucami, Turok that trandoshan had them swear an oath of brotherhood to one another, but when Ahkilleo lost his mother and… I lost my sight and they went their separate ways." Kanan said taking off his visor rubbing his fingers over it "It was different when it happened to me, when the Empire destroyed the Jedi I was on my own, but not them rather then stand together they broke apart."
"And now the life of someone they both old dear brings them back together, if they'd only get out of each other's way." Rau said, hearing another explosion.
They watched the battle continue, then heard an ignition go off behind them, looking back at the keep they saw a single Mandalorian in silvery chrome armor flying out and overhead at max speed with their jetpack, "Who's that?" Kanan asked.
"Probably just some young warrior with their own dreams of glory." Rau said, folding his arms over his chest, "Those who seek glory are often fools wearing masks, but true Mandalorians protect their own." the two men looked back to see the Armorer standing in the doorway of the keep with Paz Vizla behind her, "This is the Way."
Down in the valley one of the three remaining Supercommandos was throwing grenade after grenade at Ahkilleon as he flew through the trees, the young jedi leapt off branches like he was a tiger before he pounced up and kicked the Mandalorian back down to the earth driving his lightsaber into the gaps of his armor. The other two flew over him shooting while stormtroopers came running at him from all sides, Ahkilleon deflected incoming fire running up another tree he sliced it halfway leaping to another letting it thunder into the earth below using the environment to his advantage. But everytime he got behind a tree to hide or take cover he saw another stormtrooper pop out from somewhere he'd have to deflect their shot, cut them down or run.
He was done with it "Kill'em he's only one man." one shouted
Taking his helmet off he sucked in gasps of air nearly spent his white and blue hair was slick with sweat before he hurled it at a nearby stormtrooper knocking him off balance, Ahkilleon ran up shoulder tackling before he stabbed him another appeared and he cut their arms off, hearing them scream before he stabbed them. He hacked down two more with a full body swing then leapt spinning in the air to avoid more blaster fire. Aiming his fist downward he landed sending a shockwave of force power into the earth making rocks and dead branches erupt out pelting nearby stormtroopers. Their numbers had started to thin bodies upon bodies were everywhere in the woods the air so thick with water and blood it was almost starting to turn red.
More and more of them came to Ahkilleon and still he fought on, screaming like a madman howling to the sky to draw them closer, the smell of burning flesh and corpses were filling the air driving away any animals except for the men and women trying to kill this Jedi, this Demon.
Running his way into a clearing a two dozen stormtroopers surrounded home with two imperial supercommandos in the air, "He's weakening, shoot- shoot!" the supercommando in charge ordered. The stormtroopers opened fire Ahkilleon held his lightsabers up deflecting as many shots as he could like he had a hundred times before in the crucible training he had been doing since he first met the rebels, but he was exhausted, he was wounded but he wasn't sure were and some of the red hot lasers got through chipping away at his armor.
He was shot in the backplate.
Then his shoulder piece, why did he give up his helmet he asked as he felt his hair get burned.
BLAM
One blaster shot hit him right in the left side he almost fell but he used the force to snap the neck of the man who shot him and throw him into the other two, before he ripped a tree out of the earth and through it into six stormtroopers nine down only fifteen left plus the two commandos, if others hadn't runaway already that is. The exhaustion started to take it's toll and Ahkilleon sank to one knee one stormtrooper ran up ready to shoot him in the head if Ahkilleon hadn't flung his red lightsaber at him impaling the imperial in the face, two more tried to shoot but Ahkilleon rolled out of the way sending force lighting into them the chain of electricity bounced from them to two more and then another two. Nine left.
SHUCK- "Die Jedi!" one of the stormtroopers who out flankd him drove a dagger into his shoulder "RAAAAAH!" Ahkilleon roared throwing the stormtrooper over his shoulder and cutting his throat with his blue lightsaber, eight.
BLAM
A blaster shot square to his armors chestplate, Ahkilleon felt the wet mud under his hand steading himself, hand outstretched he lifted up three of the remaining stormtroopers crushing his hand into a fist he felt their plastoid armor and bones break like glass in his invisible grip.
Five.
A a blaster butt to the face from the remaining stormtroopers, "Just kill him already- Urk-" Ahkilleon resummoned his red saber to cut down the one who spoke, four.
"Run- Run he's a demon!" Ahkilleon jumped to his feet and stumbled after the last four who were turning to run, he stabbed one in the back, sliced the second in half, and then chucked both lightsabers with all his strength into the backs of the last two.
Or so he thought.
He felt a grapple hook wrap around his neck one of the Supercomamndo's had hooked him like a fish with his grappling hook and was starting to fly up trying to hang Ahkilleon by his own neck, digging his heels in deep into the mud, Ahkilleon pulled back on it his face turning blue and purple, he bent over as the Mandalorian reached up and Ahkilleon bent down reaching for a fallen stormtroopers E-11 blaster Ahkilleon let the stormtrooper pull him up and in a split second he turned around shooting at him, the supercommando's armor the blaster marks bouncing off the armor but hitting him hard enough he let go of Ahkilleons neck. The supercommando flew back down and tackled Ahkilleon off his feet into the trees branches and brush ripping apart before they came out onto the edge of a stony river bank, Ahkilleon hit the rocks with a gasp and the Supercommando got up drawing a knife he pressed a knee onto Ahkilleons chest ready to drive the knife into the boys face. Ahkilleon grabbed onto his wrists and held the knife at bay before he pushed with every ounce of strength he had to divert the blade under the Mandalorians helmet and into the imperial's own neck.
Blood sprayed on Ahkilleons face before the supercommando fell over onto him dead. Pushing him over, Ahkilleon gasped for air as he used the force to pull the knife out of his back, crawling on his hands and knees to the water he was bleeding, exhausted and…
Not alone.
There was one more, the Supercommando in charge, he landed there behind Ahkilleon who was now sitting one arm on his knee face covered in blood looking back at the red and white armored Mandalorian who had his blaster rifle in hand, jetpack, grenades, knife and who else knows what.
Then…
The Mandalorian dropped his blaster, "No more weapons, no more tricks" he said.
Ahkilleon knew what he was doing, the same thing Rau had done there was no honor in fighting a weakened opponent, "No more weapons…. No more tricks." Ahkilleon said, forcing himself to stand, raising up his fists, he also remembered what his Master Lord Asimov had told him, asking the dead if honor matters to them. The Mandalorian dropped his jetpack and charged him, Ahkilleon kicked off the rocks and readied himself, the Mandalorian threw fists after fist, then kick, Ahkilleon barely dodged each strike looking for an opening. He felt the beskar greave of the Commando smash into his shoulder almost knocking him over, Ahkilleon tumbled grabbing a handful of stones he flung them at the Commando, it was like throwing drops of water at a golem. If he tried to throw any body shots or aim for the head he'd break his hands on the beskar, he had to be smart, he had to fight dirty. The Mandalorian drew back his gauntlet and backhanded Ahkilleon across the face, blood and spit splattered onto the stone before Ahkilleon fell over, reaching for the rocks the Mandalorian came in for the killing blow, Ahkilleon rolled over and heaving up a massive rock he smashed it into the right Mandalorians kneecap he heard the beskar armor take the blow with a ding but the surprise of the move took the Mandalorian by surprise his leg wasn't ready and-KRUNCH
The mando's right leg caved in and he fell back screaming under his helmet, Ahkilleon jumped on top of him with the rock and smashed it into the helmet cracking the glass but not the rest of the helmet, it wouldn't cave his skull in with the helmet on but it would give a nasty concussion. He hammered the helmet with the stone again and again, breaking the built in speaker and breathalyzer, before he tossed it away and dragged the dazed and confused supercommando to the river banks. Ahkilleon yanked off his enemy's scuffed up helmet and froze.
It was a boy?
No older than him or Ezra, the mando's eyes were brown with blonde hair, light skin and a strong jaw. The brown eyes were hazy but as they came into focus the boy attacked Ahkilleon swiping at him like a beast before Ahkilleon dunked his head below the waters the gurgled screams echoing in bubbles out of the cold water, legs flailing hands on Ahkilleons bracers squeezing so tight Ahkileon felt the mando's nails cutting through his leather gloves.
Then silence.
He looked up at the gray skies above him and saw light, the sun was cutting through the fog at last, rays of warmth touched his cheeks and he saw coming out of that sunlight was a gonzati class cruiser.
Imperial reinforcements had been alerted, the communications jam hadn't gone out in time.
This was it.
He was spent, all of his rage and focus were gone.
The cruiser was drawing nearer; he could see it didn't have any TIE fighters connected to it, probably up in the space battle. He tried to raise his arms, they were so heavy but he managed to tap his wrist "... Specter Seven to… Specter one and six." he gasped into his wrist communication "Go now… run…" he said as the cruiser started to move its guns toward him, he wanted to get to his feet and yell in defiance but he wasn't sure just how deep the knife had gone
KA-BOOM
The left side of the gonzati cruiser exploded and then another explosion and another, before it went nose down into the distant miles of the river, the explosion sending a shockwave across the trees clearing the mist just long enough for Ahkilleon to see what had hit it. Descending toward him shining in the sunlight reflecting off their armor was an angel, no, a valkyrie, a Mandalorian. She landed in the water or walked on it he wasn't sure, her armor was pristine and uncovered by any markings or wear, pure beskar.
"...Ahkilleon..." he heard his name but it sounded far off.
He was cold or he was in the water, still wasn't sure.
It was getting dark…
Sabine would safe
But he wouldn't… wait something was pressed on his chest and
"OW!" Ahkilleon shot up and looked to see stabbed right into his chest just above his breastplate was a stimpack he saw the bacta fluid drain into him and looked over at the mandalorian, who was kneeling down her shining armor reflecting his face in it "Don't be so dramatic, Snips."
"Sabine?" Ahkilleon asked the stim pack, giving him energy to sit up "Who else would come to save your ass from a bad idea?" She asked as she held up another stimpack and stabbed him in the leg "Ow- stop it!" he slapped her hand away. "Wait your poison-" "Gone, the Armorer purified my armor." she said under the helmet as she held up another stimpak and got ready to spike Ahkilleon with another one "I thought I lost you." he said softly cupping her helmet about to lift it off.
He said stopping her hand, his face was close to her helmet, they heard jetpacks and looked up to see Paz Vizla with an escort of the Tribe, carrying both Ezra and Kanan with one hand while both Korkie and Rau flew down in the Revenant. It landed and out walked the two Mandos with the Armorer "Sabine, Sabine you're okay!" Ezra ran out to her across the river hugging her almost tackling her over.
"Mostly." she winced as Ezra shot a glare to Ezra, whatever tinder moment that would have was over now.
The Armorer approached Sabine and Ezra, who parted when Ahkilleon got to his feet, the Armorer looked around at the trail of mayhem Ahkilleon had left in his wake and the dead mandalorian in the water, "Well fought, Jedi." She said to him, Ahkilleon nodded "Thank you, for saving her."
"This is the way." She said as another mandalorian approached he had Ahkilleons lightsaber and helmet, Ahkilleon took them both and held up his comlink "This is Captain Tano to Admiral, Trench, objective accomplished… let's go home."
"Roger, roger click-click-click." Trench said signaling his fleet to break off, Hera got the signal too and pulled back to the flagship. Aboard Gar Saxons own star destroyer he watched them go and smiled thinking he'd won.
Back on Concordia, Kanan and Rau were reuniting with Sabine, the Tribe began to leave when Sabine asked "What becomes of us now Armorer?" she asked, helmet still on.
"We will tell Gar Saxon a rebel ship came to create a rebel cell, we alerted the Imperial garrison and you failed to recruit us. But you are purified Sabine Wren, you are always welcome here should you never remove your helmet." She said turning to leave, "Wait you mean none of you ever remove your helmets, ever?" Ezra asked.
"This is the way." The Armorer said before she turned to leave. They melted back into the mist that was slowly retaking the valley and the rebels began to board the Militia ship, but Korkie stopped "You coming?" Ahkilleon asked.
Korkie held up his flask before he tossed it away "Nah, bout time I found a new way." he said following the Tribe into the mist. Ahkilleon shrugged and figured this would be goodbye for now, and headed aboard his ship.
MILITIA SPACE
Cyberspider fleet
When Sabine walked out of the Revenant, Hera practically tackled Sabine into a hug "Thank the stars you're safe." she whispered like she was hugging her own daughter, Sabine let out a gasp "I won't be if you don't loosen up Hera." Sabine said before Hera stepped back holding her hands "Sorry, I was… look I'm glad you're okay, all of you." She said looking at Ezra and Kanan, even Rau.
Zeb came up with Rex and Chopper, "You going to keep this new chrome look?" Zeb asked.
"Hmm probably not." Sabine said as she looked it over, "What about the helmet thing, you ever taking it off, we've already seen your face?" Ezra asked, Hera noticed Ahkilleon limping down using Beetoo as a crutch on the ramp before he approached them.
Sabine tapped her fingers on her arm as she crossed them "You know that Armorer was really cool, I wonder if he could do wings on my helmet next time I see her?" Sabine said as Hera walked up to Ahkilleon, everyone tensed before Hera did something none of them expected, she hugged Ahkilleon "Thank you, Ahkilleon."
The hug was short lived because Admiral Trench and Commander Sparta had come into the hangar to greet them "And you Admiral, I wanted to say…. Thank you for this."
"Whatever do you mean click-click-click Commander?" Trench asked, everyone looked at Trench puzzled "This was a routine raid click-click-click, with the secondary objective of sabotaging concordia click-click-click, a shame our mission failed. It will be hard to report click-click-click to write." Trench said winking at Hera, who started to realize on record an entire fleet to save one rebel's life wasn't something anyone in Militia command would take seriously.
Hera smirked, "Yes, it was." She said as Trench looked at Sabine and gave a firm nod "My debt to you click-click-click is repaid in full click-click." Sabine gave a nod and Trench turned to Commander Sigma, "Let us return click-click-click, and my boy do come and visit click-click." Trench called to Ahkilleon who smiled as the old spider waved goodbye.
"Way to go junior." Zeb smacked Ahkilleon on the shoulder, almost knocking him over, "Have to say, I haven't done a mission like this since I served under General Skywalker, and your mother." Rex said, smiling at him. Ahkilleon felt their smiles and their warmth but he also saw one who wasn't there. Ezra was still in the distance scowling at him before he headed up into the Ghost more than ready to leave. Chopper followed him but noticed the Dragoon astro droids till in the hangar, Sparta's crimson and black one the leader of the astro droid gang held out it's claw arm and pointed at Chopper then dragged the claw across the lower part of it's chassis like a man would their finger across their neck. Chopper hurled binary insults at them before scurrying up the ramp after Ezra.
Seeing there was no more reason for them to stay, Hera said "We better get going."
"Right, back to Atollon." Ahkilleon said limping back to his ship, the rebels went there but Sabine stopped "Think I'll ride back on the Revenant, see how much of a copy Ghost it is." Sabine said following Ahkilleon into the haul.
"You got the helm old man?" Ahkilleon asked Turok.
The trandoshan gave a thumbs up as Ahkilleon made it to his room he went to try and remove his armor, Sabine banged on the doorway to get his attention "Need some help?" She asked.
"I'm fine." he commented.
"No your not." She said behind her helmet walking up, she helped him undo the straps and the armor fell to the floor "You fought off an entire army just to save me, and make sure Ezra and Kanan could escape, your insane."
Ahkilleon didn't argue "If you died, so would your alliance with Rau."
"Oh that's what it was about, Militia/Rebel interests?" she asked him.
Ahkilleon felt her grab his chin "I don't like being indebted to people." She growled.
"You're not." he swatted her hand away "I saved you, you saved me." he grumbled looking away before he sat down on the bed and bowed.
"Did you really hate us so much that it made you want to leave and join the Militia?" she asked him, Ahkilleon rubbed his face "I never hated you Sabine, any of you, it was weakness."
Sabine backed away and started to leave, mad at herself for bothering to comaboard "Well I'm sorry we're all a bunch of weaklings-" "I didn't say that." Ahkilleon grabbed her wrist and the door closed before Sabine could leave, "I never said you were weak, or any of you, it's Sabine, I'm the weak one."
"What?" Sabine asked him.
"I have all this power, and I couldn't save my mother or Proxy, I have all this skill and I can't use it for anything other than to kill, but the Specters. Hera can fly a ship and still lead hundreds of men into battle, she can inspire everyone to fight against inevitable odds and still win. Kanan can figure out a plan to get out of a trap, or ambush he can hold own against the Sith without having to lose control. Zeb has survived wars and purges but never loses sight of his missions, always pushing forward. Ezra lost his family, his world he barely remembers them but still he risks everything to what's right always no matter what, he always has hope and Chopper…. Is Chopper."
"And me?" Sabine asked.
Ahkilleon looked down at her his eyes reflecting in her helmets visor, slowly Sabine lifted her hands removing her helmet, hair black from being washed out in the living waters, still slightly damp from them "You, you come at every problem with thunder and lightning uncontrollable as a storm of flaming color and when it breaks you're there, my rainbow."
"I'm sorry I broke my promise, I never wanted to hurt you Sabine let alone lose you." he said reaching for the button to open the door so she could leave she stopped his hand from touching it "I forgive you, Snips." she said before finishing off a day of surprises and unusuals, Sabine leaned up and forward and Ahkilleons arms wrapped around her waist as the two young souls embraced in a kiss.