Sabine sat alone in the cockpit of a T6 shuttle, the blue tunnel of hyperspace streaking past her window. Her hands gently hovered over the controls, but her mind was elsewhere. The Battle of Mandalore was over, but she felt no sense of triumph. The victory had left her hollow, like a warrior standing atop a battlefield of her own making. She was Mandalorian, yes, but lately, her heart yearned for something beyond her people's endless struggles.
Reaching over to a small compartment beside her, Sabine pulled out an old holoprojector. A familiar blue glow lit up the cockpit, and there, in a flickering image, stood Ezra Bridger. He appeared younger, his voice holding a mixture of confidence and awkwardness.
"Sabine," the recording began, "I'm going to be away from the Ghost crew for a while. Spectre Seven and I... we've got a new student to train. Someone with... great potential."
Sabine leaned back in her seat, feeling a pang in her chest. She remembered when Ezra sent this recording years ago, how her heart had sunk then, the same way it did now.
"I'm sorry I can't spend more time with you. I wish I could. But, hey... maybe one day we'll cross paths, just like the old days. I hope you're doing okay. Take care of yourself, alright? May the Force be with you."
The recording ended. The blue light faded, leaving Sabine alone in the dim glow of the shuttle's dashboard. She stared out into hyperspace, her reflection a silhouette against the vast unknown.
A weak smile formed on her lips. Sure, she could reach out to Ezra and Spectre Seven through hologram, but that wasn't what she wanted. Deep down, she needed to see them in person, to talk to them face to face. She needed to apologize for her distance, for the anger she had held for so long.
After a few moments of silence, Sabine flicked a switch, setting coordinates for Chandrila. It was time to make amends.
XX
The shuttle broke through Chandrila's atmosphere, descending gently toward the bustling capital. Sabine navigated the skies, finding a suitable place to land on a platform near the heart of the city. It was a peaceful world, one she hadn't visited often but had always found a strange kind of serenity in its blend of urban life and nature.
After landing, Sabine mounted her speeder bike and merged onto the expressway. The speed was exhilarating, but she barely noticed the wind whipping past her. Instead, her eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the rolling hills and distant office buildings. The planet's smooth, sprawling infrastructure reminded her of long drives on Corellia's roads—civilization balanced delicately with nature. Hills rose on either side of her, dotted with shops, grocery stores, and the occasional stretch of untouched land.
Soon, the buildings grew taller, glistening glass structures replacing the open hills. She took a left off the expressway, weaving through the city streets until she arrived at a tall, sleek building—their building.
She stood before the entrance, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn't sure why she was so nervous. They were her friends, weren't they? Her family.
Taking a deep breath, Sabine pressed the entry code and rode the lift to the top floor. The door to the penthouse slid open, and the moment she stepped in, she was greeted by a familiar voice.
"Sabine!" Ezra's voice rang out, his grin as wide as ever. "You're back!"
His warm welcome eased some of her tension, and Sabine couldn't help but smile in return. "Ezra... it's been awhile."
He stepped forward, wrapping her in a tight hug. "Congratulations, by the way. I heard about Mandalore. You did it."
Sabine gave a small laugh, a mix of pride and uncertainty in her voice. "Yeah... I guess."
Ezra raises his brows, "From what I heard, Luke's training been really helping out..."
Behind Ezra, Spectre Seven—stood with her usual cool expression. She gave Sabine a nod of recognition, her lips curling ever so slightly. "Welcome, Sabine."
Sabine offered a nod back. "Thanks. It's... good to see you again."
A faint cry echoed from a nearby room, and Sabine's eyes drifted toward the sound. There, through a partially open door, she saw Ygnacio, Ezra and Spectre Seven's child, lying peacefully in his cradle. The sight was jarring in a way—a glimpse of normal life in the midst of so much chaos.
But then, Sabine's mind returned to the here and now. Ezra was speaking again, but her thoughts were distant. After everything—after reclaiming Mandalore, after standing victorious over Moff Gideon—Sabine felt... lost. She didn't feel close to her people. Mandalore wasn't her home anymore. Her people, in their arrogance and tradition, still judged her for her past, for her choices. She was a warrior to them, but an outsider at heart.
But here? Here, with Ezra, with Spectre Seven, with her family? They accepted her. Flaws, scars, past mistakes—they embraced her for who she was, not who she should be.
"Sabine?" Ezra's voice broke through her thoughts.
"I... I want to talk," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes flicked to Spectre Seven, then back to Ezra.
Ezra frowned, his expression softening with concern. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
Sabine took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I've been holding on to a lot of resentment. Over the years, I just... I don't know. I felt like I was drifting away from you. I cared about you, Ezra. More than I realized."
Ezra's brow furrowed, and he glanced briefly at Yalara, or Spectre Seven, before looking back at Sabine. "I... never meant to push you away."
Sabine shook her head, pacing slightly as she gathered her thoughts. "It wasn't just you. It's me too. I felt you being with Yalara and you both training Luke was abandonment... And when the Empire decimated my family on Mandalore... I felt so alone. I felt I didn't have anyone to turn to."
Her voice cracked, and for a moment, she felt vulnerable in a way she hadn't allowed herself to feel in years.
"I'm sorry," she said, finally meeting their eyes. "I'm sorry for being angry. I should've talked to you sooner, instead of... instead of pushing it away."
Ezra stepped forward, his eyes soft with understanding. "Sabine... we all deal with pain differently. You don't have to apologize for that."
Spectre Seven spoke next, her voice calm, almost soothing. "And you don't have to face it alone."
Sabine felt a wave of relief wash over her. For so long, she had carried that weight, convinced she had no place, no people. But she was wrong. She wasn't alone. She never had been.
"I care about you both," she said, her voice steady now. "You're my family. I want us to spend more time together."
There was a brief pause, a silence that seemed to stretch across the room, before Ezra stepped forward and pulled her into another embrace. This time, it felt different. Warmer. More real.
"During the war, we missed you," Ezra said softly. "And I've been grateful for your presence since then."
Spectre Seven moved closer, her hand resting lightly on Sabine's shoulder.
Sabine exhaled, finally letting go of the tension that had been coiled within her for so long. For the first time in what felt like years, she allowed herself to truly smile.
This—here, with them—was where she belonged.
Later that evening, as the sun set over Chandrila's peaceful horizon, the penthouse kitchen filled with the fragrant aroma of spices and roasting meat. Sabine stood next to Spectre Seven, the two working side by side in an unspoken rhythm, chopping vegetables and marinating cuts of Gruuvan Shaal for the kebabs. The sizzle of the cooking meat mingled with the quiet hum of the city outside, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
"You're getting better at this," Spectre Seven remarked with a small smile, skewering the vegetables alongside the marinated meat.
Sabine chuckled, flipping another kebab. "Well... referencing a cook book helps."
The two women worked in comfortable silence, passing ingredients back and forth. It was a quiet, domestic moment—something Sabine had rarely experienced in her life. The battlefield was behind them, and for the first time in a long time, she wasn't preparing for a fight. She was simply... living.
They carried the food to the small dining area, setting the plates down and settling in across from one another. The aroma of the Gruuvan Shaal kebabs filled the room, mixing with the sweetness of the wine as they began to eat. The flavors were bold, rich with spice and history, but the moment was simple, quiet.
As the last of the kebabs were finished, Ezra reached into the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Lothalian Currant wine, its deep, ruby red hue catching the light. He poured three glasses and handed them around, the soft clink of the glass against the counter sounding like a gentle toast.
"Said this before... but being able to eat these different types of foods at home has been something I have been grateful for since the war came to an end..." Ezra said. He raised his glass in Sabine's direction. His eyes, though lighthearted, carried a deeper meaning. "Congrats, Sabine. On your training... and victory for your homeworld."
Sabine met his gaze, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Couldn't have done it without you both guiding Luke." She gave a nod to Spectre Seven, who stood quietly with a small smile of her own.
Ezra leaned back in his chair, looking out at the stars that had begun to pepper the night sky. "Thanks Sabine," he said quietly, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Spectre Seven nodded, raising her glass slightly in acknowledgment. "You saved ourselves on multiple occasions."
Seven continued, "And being nomadic made us realize... home consists of the people you're with, not a planet or place."
Sabine, warmed by both the wine and the moment, couldn't help but smile. "Well then, you two really know how to make a girl feel welcome."
Ezra face warmed up in response.
He raised his glass, offering a grin. "To family."
Spectre Seven and Sabine followed suit, their glasses clinking softly in the quiet room.
"To family," Sabine echoed, feeling the weight of those words sink in.
They ate slowly, savoring both the meal and the quiet. Ezra regaled them with stories from his travels, while Spectre Seven offered her characteristic dry wit, making them all laugh with her understated humor. Sabine, who had been so used to fighting and running, found herself at peace here, in the warmth of her true family.
At one point, Sabine caught herself watching Ezra and Spectre Seven, the way they seamlessly fit into each other's lives. She felt that same longing again—a desire for connection, for a place to belong. But tonight, she wasn't an outsider. She was part of them, a piece of this moment.
After the meal, they remained at the table, the wine flowing and conversation drifting from one topic to another, sometimes light, sometimes deeper. Sabine took a sip from her glass, feeling the smooth, rich taste of the wine on her tongue, and let herself relax.
Later, after the dishes were cleared and the last of the wine had been poured, Sabine leaned back in her chair, feeling the contentment settle deep within her.
Ezra smiled across the table. "You look at peace."
Sabine nodded, a soft smile on her lips. "I am."
Spectre Seven stood, stretching slightly. "About time."
Sabine laughed. "Yeah..."
As the night continued, Sabine knew that whatever lay ahead, whatever battles she would have to face, she wouldn't face them alone. This was her family. Her home.