Imperial Academy: A Star Wars Rebels Story;
Chapter II:
Characters: Sabine Wren, Ezra Bridger, Kannan Jarrus, Hera Syndulla, C1-10P (Chopper), Garazeb 'Zeb' Orrellios, Agent Alexander Kallus, The Inquisitor, Gar Saxon
Ships: Sabezra, Hints of Kanera, for now
Description:
Sabine Wren is the top cadet in the Imperial Academy on Mandalore, as such she is the one selected to tutor its newest pupil, Ezra Bridger. Ezra is a rebel spy, working for Phoenix Squadron; his objective was simple, find The Duchess and eliminate it. So what happens when the pair become entangled in the web of Rebel plots and Imperial machinations?
Disclaimer:
I do not own Star Wars. I am but a humble fan, may Disney, who may soon be the entertainment overlords please spare me their wrath and lawsuits, I wouldn't have much to give them anyway.
Classroom Delta-4, Imperial Academy
Sabine glared, Ezra was sitting his focus on the holoprojected board at the front of the room. The Instructor was motioning to different points on the board, Sabine could faintly tell the details of the assignments.
"Cadet Wren." Her eyes shot forwards as The Instructor motioned to the display. "Would you please note the errors made by TK-253 in his report?"
Sabine nodded and her strides quickly closed the distance between The Instructor and her desk. Pausing before the hologram showing the report her eyes began to dart from side to side. Her back straightened as she turned on the heel of her boot and stared towards the class.
"TK-253 used the wrong code, instead of saying that the supply depot was under attack, he said that the commissary was. Such a mistake in a report is frustrating, but not as bad as in the field."
"Good Cadet Wren, now Cadet Bridger." Ezra's blue eyes focused on The Instructor.
"Yes Instructor Gyren?" Instructor Gyren motioned Sabine back to her seat before pointing to the spot she'd occupied. He was up and at the front of the room almost as faster then Sabine got back to her desk.
"Cadet Bridger, what is the importance of proper use of both technical jargon and proper reporting to The Empire?" Gyren's eyebrow is raised as he keeps his eyes fixed on the cadet beside him.
"Proper use of technical jargon, such as codes, makes it possible for the algorithms that search through reports to more easily find reports and compile information for Imperial Intelligence. Proper reporting feeds into the same vein, but if reports are wrong or incorrect and small or miniscule seeming details are left out there is the chance for Imperial criminals or Rebel Terrorists to escape." Instructor Gyren motions Ezra back to his seat, Sabine's lips slightly parted and her eyes widened just a fraction. Ezra can't help the way a smirk pulls at his lips or the wink he throws her way.
"A great answer, so if the importance of reporting feeds into Imperial Intelligence and therefore may have importance beyond the reach of the current deployment or star system, can anyone tell me what the penalty for such infractions is?" Instructor Gyren's eyes were scanning the crowd as Sabine continued to glare as her arm shot up. "Cadet Wren?"
"As such The Imperial Code suggests Court Martial, restricted rations, duty assignment, and depending on the rank and size of the mess up a demotion or prison time can be incurred as well." Sabine's eyes were as hard as the iron that made up her armour as she stared Ezra down. Ezra's hand went up and Instructor Gyren watched him beneath the brim of his hat.
"Yes Cadet Bridger? Something to add?"
"The Imperial Code also suggests that in times of conflict, such as war or where the normal command structure can be contacted, the commanding officer is allowed to render judgement without a Court Martial up to and including execution depending on the severity of the mistake." Instructor Gyren's head bobs and he turns back to the display depressing one of its buttons.
"Cadets Wren and Bridger are both correct. The Empire expects a great amount of care and effort to be put into its reports and maintaining both our Intelligence Corps, but also our standards. Every member of the Empire is a representative of it, and as such any misstep or mistake can be seen as weakness by those who might try to hurt our glorious Empire. The Imperial Code assignment I outlined at the beginning of next class will be completed and submitted at the start of our next session. As well all combat exercises from now on must use proper codes, frequencies, and scramblers. Mistakes will be punished by mock Court Martials with real punishments for the Cadet or Cadets involved. Do not fail your Empire Cadets, you are a part of it and it is key that you understand the respect that requires. Cadets Dismissed." As the class of cadets marched out of the room Sabine snatched at the shoulder of Ezra's uniform. She dragged him off to the side and out of the way of the others. There were still eyes on them, which practically burned holes into the back of Sabine's head.
"What do you think you're doing? Are you trying to make me look bad? I'm the one who's supposed to be tutoring you!" Sabine hissed at him. Ezra for his party has wide eyes and looked fairly confused.
"Make you look bad? I'm basically trying to survive on my own, so if that means risking your ire to make sure that I don't get stabbed or worse in my sleep I'll do it. Maybe you should focus less on me and more on giving complete answers." Ezra pushes his way out of Sabine's gap and started for his next class. Sabine starred, her jaw locked in order to avoid it being hung open like a hangar bay.
"I'm gonna murder me a shabla Lothrat."
The Next Day
Study Section Alpha-6, Imperial Academy
Sabine couldn't help the glare and flat look on her face as the boy who had started to become proper competition in a few of their joint classes struggled with simple division and multiplication. Ezra's face was contorted into a myriad of lines and the muscles of his jaw were so tight one could mistake them for durasteel cord.
"You can't do division?" her tone didn't beg for an answer, more of a statement than anything. His blue eyes raised to meet her with a glare.
"You grow up on the streets of Lothal? Division and Multiplication aren't worth bantha poodoo." He slammed his book closed and slipped from the study section. "I'll be in my bunk when you decide you actually want to do what you've been asked too."
Sabine narrowed his eyes as he stood. Her hand shot out and wrapped around his wrist. The reaction was instant. His study materials clattered across the table, his fingers pressed tightly to the nerve points on her arm. Her arm went slack and a gasp escaped her lips. His eyes went wide, but hardened quickly.
"I said I'll see you at my bunk if you actually want to help me." His snatched up his stuff and away before Sabine could even get up. She flexed her fingers, pain spiked through her arm, it was a sore kind of ache. The echo of footfalls reached her ears and Sabine turned. She stood, her chair practically screeched over the floor.
"Well, this is an interesting development." Viceroy Saxon raised an eyebrow at her. "What would you make of that reaction Cadet Wren?"
"He has trouble with math Sir, he doesn't like being pushed,..." Sabine watched her mentor carefully. She had the scene in her mind, she played back every piece she could remember, and struggled to analyze for more.
"And? There's at least one more thing Cadet Wren." Her eyebrows shot up, as she noted how he pushed pressure points on her arm to free himself.
"He used pressure points on my arm to free himself Sir. He has at least some level of training in hand-to-hand, yet pressure points aren't taught in Basic, at least not to Stormtrooper hopefuls." Viceroy Saxon nodded at her. He spun on his heel and he went for the library's door.
"Good work Cadet Wren, I knew you were the right choice for the job. Keep pushing him, let's see where this aruetii lands shall we?" He was gone before Sabine answered. Another piece of the scene replayed in her mind though, 'grow up on the streets of Lothal'. Her memory about his thoughts on Mandalorian culture returned to her, Sabine shook the traitorous ideas from her head. She would catch this aruetii and she would bring honour to The Empire and to her Clan.
Dormitory 5, Imperial Academy
Ezra glared at Chopper, the droid was settled right at the edge of his bunk. He took a seat on his bed and pulled the data chip he'd made and slipped it to the droid. Chopper beeped at him, and Ezra growled. The Machine beeped again and twirled before it rolled away. A few other cadets in the room raised their eyebrows at the astromech, but said nothing. He went to his desk and cracked open his book and continued his homework, even if Sabine wouldn't help him, didn't mean he couldn't fight his way through it.
The other cadets began to slink towards their bunks, Ezra remained stalwart at his desk. Sabine stopped behind him once, then continued to her bunk. The lights around him died, and still he fought his way through problem after problem. Sometimes he heard Kallus' or Hera's voices as they helped him work on the problems. It was close to midnight as he flicked off his light and closed his book. By the Force he'd be screwed if he had to do this every night.
The Ghost, 25 kilometers out from Sundari
Hera glared at Chopper, honestly the droid was quite tired of that greeting. She pulled the data chip and slipped it into the computer. She was still clad in her jumpsuit, Kanan sat in the seat beside her in his green shirt and armoured pauldron. The projector at the center of The Ghost's display flared to life, and a blue tinted hologram of Ezra appeared.
"It's taking longer than expected, and I think I'll need more info from Fulcrum before I can make a move. The prototype is supposedly incomplete but all information on it is being kept on a separate server from the education one. I have no access at this point, I don't know how long I'll have to stay deep, but until then tell Fulcrum that his letters should continue, it'll give Chop a reason to keep slipping onto the base. I miss you, may the Force be with you." The recording cut out and Hera turned away. Kanan reached out, his hand settled on her upper arm.
"It's Ezra Hera, the kid'll be fine. Honestly I don't think I've seen anyone take to this the way he does, he's better at it than Jedi training." Kanan tried for a reassuring smile, Hera would have called it closer to a grimace. She raised an eyebrow at him and stood up. Her arms curled around herself as she slipped from his grasp.
"Are we any better than his parents? They put themselves in danger for their son, and now we've put him in danger for The Rebellion. Worse… I asked him to do this Kanan, I asked him to go there, and I knew what might happen, but I thought it'd be in and out…" Hera's voice shook and she refused to turn and meet his gaze. Kanan's chair creaked and he wrapped his arms around her.
"Is this about Ezra's parents? Or is it about your father? What we're doing is questionable Hera, it always has been, but we've prepared him, and I have no doubt he's seen worse on The Streets than he'll see in that academy. He knew the risks when you offered this to him, so don't act like it's just your fault. He chose it too, all of it." Kanan pulled her tight. "There's nothing we can do now Hera, we just have to trust in The Force, and hope."
"Wow, I feel so comforted Kanan, all I can do for the boy I made you take in is hope and trust in The Force." She scoffed, Kanan chuckled into the top of her head. His lips pressed to her forehead. His fingers squeezed her softly and his mouth tilted close to her ear.
"I know it doesn't mean much, but trust me. If The Force was saying something was wrong I'd know, I've kept a closer eye on that kid than most masters have ever kept on their padawan. I'll know if something major is up." She twisted in his arms and embraced him.
"I'll trust you Love, but that doesn't mean I don't get to worry."
Shooting Range Alpha-2, Imperial Academy
Sabine glared at her target, the blaster pistol in her hand bucked and another scorch mark joined the rest of its brethren on the metal sheet with a Rebel's image. Beside her a curse broke through the din of blasterfire. Sabine leaned back and her eyes widened. Bridger's blaster was partially disassembled, the powerpack on the table before him and the trigger assembly in a variety of pieces. Sabine turned, and caught the officer in charge with his back to their side of the range. Another curse drew her focus back to Bridger. The boy held a broken piece, his firing mechanism had been tampered with. Sabine couldn't help the fire in her stomach. She may not like the Lothrat, but if someone tampered with his gear then he would fail because of outside interference, not because he had failed to meet standards. Sabine bit back her own curse and pulled a spare of the piece from her belt and held it out to him.
Bridger's jaw dropped, his wide eyes locked on the piece. She waved it at him. His mouth snapped shut and the piece disappeared from her hand. She turned back and pulled her blaster back up. She fired again and again. Soon she heard the fire of another blaster on the line. As practice ended and the cadets were marching back towards their dorms Bridger sidled up to Sabine. She glared at the smile that stretched across his face, and the twinkle in his blue eyes.
"You helped me." Her glare narrowed.
"Don't make a big deal out of this." There was a note of warning in her tone. His smile grew broader.
"You helped me, you don't entirely hate me." Sabine's amber gaze hardened and her lips pulled tight.
"Listen and listen well Bridger, the only reason I helped you is so that when you flunk out of this Academy it's because you weren't good enough and not because someone tampered with your gear." Bridger simply winked and slipped back into place before the officer noticed. His last words stuck in her head, no matter how hard she fought to purge them.
"You still helped me."
A/N:
So I know that this update is also fairly short, but in order to understand I've been struggling to write fanfiction right now, I finally got into a mood for it and I'm going to try and get done what I can while I have this mood. Also here's Chapter II of this fic, so please thank Anonymous Noob The 2nd for requesting it. I think I finally kind of have a good idea of the plot and where I want to take this fic, as such I'll hopefully have more out without a huge time difference, but I bet those promises are starting to seem quite empty coming from me. Thanks to everyone who has made it through to this point, this fic is one I care about, that's the only reason I'm writing it, and that means that I have a certain quality to expect from my writing. That's part of the reason why I struggle sometimes because I'll hit some Writer's Block (read: Absolute Bane of My Existence) and feel like every attempt that I'm making just isn't good enough. So thanks for bearing with me. Also a lot of my stuff is on Fnet and I'm trying to put it on Archiveofourown (AO3) as well, so you'll probably see these stories popping up over there if they aren't already. Thanks for reading, and if you bear with me I do hope to complete my stories I never mean to make them seem abandoned, because they aren't I just need to get rid of the Writer's Block that's fought me on that story for, in some cases years. Anyway stay safe everyone and I hope that you all are able to take care of yourselves.
-Six out