Chapter 44
Trials of the Darksaber
RAXUS
Castle Asimov
Lord Asimov remained in the bacta tank, deep in his healing coma as his body repairs itself. Jedi Master Saa looked at his vitals, the neti woman brushed back her root like hair when she felt a presence in the medical wing. "Caliban, it's polite to knock." she said as the golden masked 'man' entered, his long purple head dress and robes bristled as he walked to stand by her side. "You would sense me one way or another, Master Saa, how is your patient?"
"Petro- I mean Asimov continues to recover, at least his body does, but the mind is another matter. If we try to wake him by force it could do more damage than good." She said as she set down the datapad.
Caliban pressed his wrapped up hand on the glass for a moment, then took it away "Have you read the latest report from his padawan?"
"My own padawan made a report, Starweirds coming back from myth, these are…." "Dark Times." Caliban asked her.
She turned her head to him "Strange times, Caliban."
There was a long silence, "You would know, but maybe there are things you don't know?" Caliban tapped his golden chin, "Commander Sigma or General Sigma hasn't wasted any time in securing the surrounding lands of the Temple, don't you think?"
"The Vanguard suffered heavy casualties at Naboo, but I have seen many of their soldiers coming and going to assist with other fleets." She said,
Caliban nodded "There are still rumors in the Union for the Jedi to be removed from the war, like the last time."
"If only." Saa said as she folded her arms against her chest "We were never meant to be warriors, but without Asimov's War Jedi would we be able to have the protection from the Militia, or would they conscript us anyway?"
Caliban paused again, "This war was inevitable, now or thirty years from now the Core and the Rim have fought time and time again, but we can go back and forth about it. I wanted to ask you, if Lord Asimov wasn't able to make it, how would the New Council react, his padawan specifically?"
"Are you asking for him to be removed from military service?" Saa asked.
"No, but Asimov and I have made our hopes known for a Jedi King to rise, we believe it to be the Tano boy."
Saa narrowed her eyes at him "There has never been a Jedi King, nor should there, the Council-" "Is a formality at this point, though wouldn ever admit it. Lord Asimov is the undisputed leader of the Jedi, the Knights and subsequently the War Jedi will follow him and if he dies, that creates… opportunities."
"Get out." Saa said to him, he turned to her to see her brown eyes glaring into him like a great oak tree whose roots were so deep not even the mightiest storm could fell it, "Food for thought." Caliban said with a curt bow before he turned to leave.
ATOLLON
Chopper Base
Ahkilleon slashed his red lightsaber against Corto's, or his blue one, it was midday in the rebel base and Ahkilleon had given Corto his blue lightsaber with the power intensity turned down on each blade as they trained "High guard." Ahkilleon said before Corto did so, "Left, left right." Ahkilleon did the moves as he spoke them and Corto had to swiftly move just to block them.
"Parry." Corto went for the opening Ahkilleon gave him before Ahkilleon spun and knocked the blade from his hand with his lightsaber glancing against Corto's wrist, he yelped before dropping the blade "Ow, you said parry." Corto whined.
Ahkilleon turned off his saber and picked his up, "I did, but your enemy won't." Ahkilleon pointed out as he clipped both blades to his chest.
"That's enough for today, your improving to say the least." Corto healed the wound on his hand as Ahkilleon spoke, "Can't we use training lightsabers?"
Shaking his head, "If we did that you wouldn't learn as quickly."
"And he wouldn't get maimed." Yumi said as a ship was starting to get ready to take off behind her, "Your ship is about to leave." Ahkilleon said to her.
Yumi looked at the ship and then at her brother, "On the contrary, I've aksed my Master permission to stay and watch out for my brother, and you, Ahkilleon." Yumi said hands on her hips as her bald head started to show some prickles of hair on it, "You smelled of the dark side when you came back from that fiasco with the Starsweird."
"Yumi." Corto hissed at her.
"No, the mission was a failure, we lost four good men, including Rulf." Ahkilleon said knowing Jay had left with the remains to return them from Arcadia "First Gabi, then Urrde, now Rulf, who will you kill next Demon?" Yumi asked Ahkilleon.
Corto stepped to his sister "Yumi, that's enough!" he barked.
Yumi scoffed before she walked off, "She's not wrong." Ahkilleon said.
"Yes… she is." Corto sighed "Gabi was shot by an imperial sniper, Urrde was sucked out into space, and Rulf… Rulf was unlucky, none of them were your fault, brother."
Ahkilleon frowned "Gabi survived though, she was supposed to get a new cybernetic implant, right?" Ahkilleon asked, Gabi the tall lanky nemodian girl, was one of the cadets Ahkilleon had met. She was helping clean our rubble from Serenno when an imperial sniper took her out.
Croto shook his head, "The surgery failed, they couldn't save her."
"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Ahkilleon asked, eyes narrowing, "You had enough to worry about."
"I worry about my friends too, I know… I'm not the best about opening up, but the way Jay looked before he left…" He trailed off looking down at the rebels moving around the base. He noticed a group of A-wings coming down and he followed them to spy Sabine "What happened between you two?" Corto asked.
Ahkilleon narrowed his gaze at him "You're a healer, not a love doctor." Ahkilleon said to him.
"Have to talked to her, because that usually helps." Corto said as Ahkilleon turned back to him "Let's go again." he tossed Corto the blue lightsaber and they resumed their training. Down below in the base Sabine continued to argue with Chopper over something to do with the ships upgrades.
"All right, all right." she said as she gave up and saw Fenn Rau, the Mandalorian pilot heading into the Ghost, he made his way to Kanan's room and opened the door to see Kanan sitting on the bed mediating.
"You wanted to speak with me?" Fenn asked him, Kanan nodded "I've got something to show you."
"What's this about?" Fenn asked him as Kanan produced the hilt of the strange lightsaber Sabine had found on Dathomir in Mauls relics. "A lightsaber?" Kanan said as he turned on the blade and the single edge black blade of energy appeared "Not just any lightsaber."
"It can't be." Fenn asked as Kanan turned it off "So you recognize it?"
"That I do." Fenn said before he spoke "It is the Darksaber, a symbol for the leader of House Vizsla, and later, the group known as Death Watch. I didn't know Mandalorians developed a type of lightsaber." Kanan said handing the lightsaber to Fenn, the Protector looked it over in his hands. "We didn't. This was one of a kind, legend tells that it was created over a thousand years ago by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian ever inducted into the Jedi Order. After his passing, the Jedi kept the saber in their temple. That was, until members of House Vizsla snuck in and liberated it. They used the saber to unify the people and strike down those who would oppose them. One time, they ruled all of Mandalore wielding this blade." Fenn explained to him and as he did Kanan could picture the legend of Tarre and later the unification of Mandalore under his house.
"This saber is an important symbol to that house and respected by the other clans. I imagine Sabine was excited to recover it." Fenn said as he handed it back to Kanan, and he took it. "You wouldn't know it, after we got back from Dathomir, she gave it to me for safekeeping and hasn't brought it up since."
"She doesn't want the responsibility." Fenn said scratching his chin "Kanan, if Sabine can wield this saber, she can reunite one of the most powerful houses in all of Mandalore."
"You're talking about raising an army." Kanan said warily, Fenn nodded "With Sabine leading it." There was once a legend of Mandalore, of one of our forgotten leaders, Mandalore the Preserver. A veteran of the Crusades, he saw how weak and vulnerable the clans were divided and sought to rebuild our people. And in doing so he met a Jedi, known as the Exile."
Kanan leaned in "The Exile is a myth."
"So you do know the story." Fenn said "And you would know that it was Mandalore the Preserver and the fabled Jedi Exile who fought together against a Sith Lord who could consume entire worlds."
Kanan frowned, "Like I said, a myth. Regardless, the Jedi and the Mandalorians united would be unstoppable."
"It has to be Sabine's choice." Kanan replied, "Then let's ask her."
Later, Sabine was in her room making a new mural on her wall when their was a knock on the door "Come in." She said, it was Chopper who honked at her "Who all is there?" He replied and Sabine sighed "Everybody?"
She put up her paint and headed to the lounge, before she walked in noticing a certain white haired boy wasn't there "I won't do it." she snapped walking into everybody, Kanan, Hera, Zeb, Ezra, Chopper and Fenn.
"So you do know what the Darksaber is." Fenn said leaning against the wall "I know it caused my family nothing but trouble after Maul took it." She hissed.
Fenn stared sternly at her "Maul used it to divide and conquer our people, you can wield it to do the opposite."
"Wield it? You're crazy." She spat.
She turned to their resident Jedi Knight, "Kanan, tell him he's crazy."
"Consider what he has to say." Kanan replied calmly.
"What?" Both Sabine and Rau asked at the same time, Kanan stepped forward holding the Darksaber "I don't think it's a coincidence this saber came into your possession."
Ezra was sitting next to Zeb and Chopper when he chimed in "Yeah, but, Kanan, that doesn't mean she can fight with it. No offense."
Sabine took that as a challenge glaring at him "Go on?"
Ezra winced at her glare "What I mean is… Look, it's taken me a while to learn, and, I mean, I use the Force.
"She might not be able to fight like a Jedi,but she can learn to be proficient with the blade." Fenn said as if it was already decided "I am proficient, with many types of blades and blasters and explosives, but that is a lightsaber." She stated condemning the whole plan.
"The combat training is not as important as what that blade represents." Hera explained to her, "Right, right, you want me to lead my clan, I don't know if you realize this, but I'm not that popular with my family these days."
Hera stepped toward her and put her hands on her shoulders "That can change."
"No, it can't." she grumbled "You don't know what you're talking about." Hera said reassuringly.
"I know that family is important to the Wrens, just like it is to all Mandalorians." Fenn said to her, being the only other Mandalorian there "I have a family, here, on this ship. I don't need them." Sabine barked.
Hera spoke again "But we do, If there's a chance that you can rally an army of Mandalorian warriors to our cause, I have to ask you to do it."
"...Hera." Sabine looked at the twi'lek near speechless at such a request.
"Family history can be painful, believe me, I know. But we can use those warriors for our rebellion."
Kanan stepped up too "Hera's right. We need to ask you to do this, but that doesn't mean you have to." he assured her. "You can walk away and forget about it."
Sabine gave it a long thought before she sighed "All right. I'll do it, just give me the saber."
Fenn took the lightsaber from Kanan and approached her "Listen, once people know you have it, you will be challenged and you need to be able to defend yourself."
"Okay, I'll try my best." Sabine said "First lesson, don't try, just learn." Ezra smiled teasingly like any brother would, she scowled at him despite his whimsical intentions.
"Give me the sword. I'm gonna learn how to kick your…" "Sabine." Kanan cut her off "Okay." Sabine said.
LATER
After sometime, Ahkilleon was standing next to Beetoo who had a hologram of Turok standing somewhere offworld, "Any luck?" Ahkilleon asked him, Turok smoke holographic smoke out of his pipe, wherever he was it was raining and his breath fogged out of his teeth along with a thick cloud of smoke. "Rumors mostly, tracked down word of someone named Ben Kenobi who was with his daughter years ago." Turok said as he sucked on the pipe.
Scratching his chin, Ahkilleon felt the prickles of hair on his jawline "Not much to go on, keep looking. Any word from Sigma and the Vanguard?"
"Those who are still able to fight are off to Hutt Space to reinforce the Cyberspider Fleet, General Sigma is leading them. They'v asked me to recon some Imperial forces in the area, so our Jedi friend will have to wait." Turok said to him.
Nodding "Master Kenobi will have to wait, the war takes precedent, I just don't get why he wouldn't come to Raxus, or any Militia world. His experience, his knowledge would be invaluable to the Militia."
"I knew Kenobi, he didn't show it, but he hated the war. How there was so much senseless destruction, the death of Jedi, clones and civilians but he never showed it to anyone." Turok said as lightning clapped in the background of wherever he was.
"All the more reason he has to be the Jedi King, not me." Ahkilleon muttered the last part, Turok shook his head "Like I said, he may not want to be found, don't sell yourself short lad all of this-" "Is for a free Outer Rim, not me Turok, I won't have it…" he trailed off.
Then Ahkilleon took a breath, "Continue with your work Turok, and let me know about the Cyberspiders and Vanguard, if the Tigers can help in anyway." he said as he noticed Kanan, Ezra, and Sabine loading up one of the land speeders with camping supplies, he also noticed clipped to Sabine's belt was the infamous darksaber of legend. "Tano out. Militia Invictus."
"Militia Invictus lad." Turok said before he turned off the coms, Ahkilleon was about to approach the three rebels when Sawyer appeared in front of him, the two afro puff brown hair buns tied tight behind her head, in her all black Dragoon outfit, she wasn't wearing her fleece jacket with her flight suit sleeves rolled up. "'Commander' she said in a mocking tone of respect, a word."
Ahkilleon glowered at her "Not now, Gererra."
"Why wasn't I brought on the last mission?" She asked.
Ahkilleon tried to get past her, but she moved to intercept him like any pilot would her target, "It was supposed to be a simple recovery mission."
"And it was anything but." she said coldly.
Ahkilleon glared at her, "I'll remind you I outrank you, Airwoman."
For a moment she looked like she was ready to fight him but then she sighed, "Sorry, Commander I… old habit."
"If you'll excuse me." he said walking past her, "Thank you." She said,
Ahkilleon froze, puzzled but he didn't look at her "For bringing my uncle back to us, I grew up with stories about him from my mother. I guess we have that in common, about our moms telling us stories about men we never met."
"If you say so, Sawyer." Ahkilleon replied before he walked off, but by the time he had made it to where, Sabine, Ezra and Kanan were loading up the speeder they were gone.
The speeder was heading into the dunes and coral forests of Atollon, "Hey, why can't we just practice, back at the base?" Sabine asked, watching a few A wings fly off in the distance, Ezra was driving them with Kanan in the passenger seat, Sabine sat in the back with all their supplies.
"It's better out here, fewer distractions." Kanan said ahead of her "Keeps your mind focused."
"And it's safer for everyone else, you'll do less damage." Ezra added coily.
"I'll damage you if you don't shut up." Sabine snapped. They rode out into a small clearing into the earth surrounded by coral trees on all sides for shelter, the sun was going down and the sky began to turn a shifting color or orange to purple. They had set up the camp with three small tents on the ground, supplies and even the beginnings of a fire for later that night. Sabine and Ezra unloaded the crates one by one, with Sabine grumbling "When you said you were going to be training me, I thought there'd be more sword fighting involved." She said as she set down the last one.
Ezra smiled at her, excited "Hey, it's always like this, he was the same with me."
"Yeah, and look how well you've turned out." Kanan replied as he picked up two wooden sticks with metal bolts on the end and guards to form hilts. "Are you being serious? Is he being serious?" Sabine asked.
Ezra just shrugged "I can never tell."
Meanwhile, having followed their trail, Ahkilleon rode up on his speeder bike, the same one he'd won during him and Sabine's first outing on Garel, against the Burj speeder gang. Where he'd accidentally hurt her later with force lightning. He pushed that painful memory of failure to the back of his head.
Down in the grove, Ezra, Kanan and Sabine finished up setting up the camp, "We should get started." Kanan said with the two training sticks in hand.
"Try not to sound so excited." Sabine said as Kanan tossed her the training lightsaber, Ahkilleon found a perch on one of the coral trees and watched, "Hey, what's this?"
"Training saber." Kanan replied humorless in his tone.
Rolling her eyes Sabine asked "Really?"
"Before we start with the real thing, I want to see your technique." Kanan said holding aloft his training saber, wich was just a smoothed over stick "I already know how to fight with a stick." Sabine said as she looking at him unhappy with the training wheels he'd given her.
"Then this should be easy for you." Kanan said as she reluctantly held up the stick, Kanan and Sabine advanced on one another, Sabine attacking him with intent. Her stick and his klaked off one another, in parry after parry, then Sabine went for his legs, but Kanan's jedi sensed it was a faint, so when she switched at the last second he countered her attack, pushing her back before she hit a rock knocking her to the ground.
Kanan pointed his stick at her scoldingly "That might work on a stormtrooper, but not me." Sabine jumped to her feet and attacked again this time more ferocious than just a sparring round, Ezra's eyes went wide seeing Sabine swing the stick with such accuracy, but Kanan deflected her attacks again and again before he held the stick up past her defenses inches from her neck. "And that's your head, every mistake is a limb blade is never at rest." Kanan told her.
Sabine dropped her guard and sighed "Okay, let's go again."
"No." Kanan said tossing the stick to his own padawan "You better practice with Ezra first."
Hopping to his feet, Ezra caught the stick and ran over "All right."
"Why?" Sabine asked as Kanan walked over to the camp to observe, "Ezra, walk her through the forms."
"Kanan!" Sabine protested, as Ezra came up beside her, Ezra got into his position legs outside of shoulder length, stick held upright in both hands "Okay, ready position… Sabine! Ready position?"
Sabine's shoulders sagged as she mimicked Ezra "Okay, great."
"Yeah, that's ready position." Ezra confirmed, smiling reassuringly.
"Now we go one, two…" he held his saber in the next position and Sabine tried to copy him "Hey, slow down, all right?
"You're not gonna learn this in one day." Ezra said to her, "Ezra." She sneered.
Ezra got ready to move again, and for Sabine to follow "Ready, one, two, three." Ezra took her through the motions as Ahkilleon watched, he then sensed, Kanan glancing over his shoulder at him, though Kanan didn't say anything Ahkilleon could feel his intent, leave.
So he did.
Ahkilleon rode back to Chopper Base on his speeder and groaned at what he saw as he pulled into camp, a Militia regular one of his Tigers was in a fight with a Phoenix Squadron trooper in a blue and gray uniform. The two of them were throwing punches in a loud circle of both Militia and Rebel forces on each side, "Great." Ahkilleon grumbled as he saw Sato, Hera, Rex and Zeb pushing their way through the crowd. Ahkilleon fought his way through the circle before, Zeb had bulldozed his way into the ring grabbing the Phoenix Squadron trooper throwing him back, Ahkilleon dragged his own man back before Zeb could lay into him "What is the meaning of this!" Sato demanded.
"You rebel scum got no respect." The Tiger barked at him.
"Stand down." Ahkilleon barked at his man, he noticed Breacher standing arms crossed his cigar in his mouth, "Lt. report?" Ahkilleon asked.
Taking a long toke of his stogie, Breacher huffed it out, "Some hot words exchanged, then insults then fists."
"No doubt your marauders started it, I should have all of you thrown in the stockade for this insubordination." Sato hissed.
The Tigers grumbled at that, barring their claws hands on blaster pistols and knives, "I will discipline my own men, Commander Sato, discipline your own." Ahkilleon grumbled.
Sato got ready to say or do something when Hera got between them, "This fight is over, keep your Tigers in line, Commander Tano." Hera said to him, not condoning Sato's actions but signaling to all officers nothing more would come from further fighting.
"Agreed." Ahkilleon growled before he turned his back on Sato, "All of you, camp, now." Ahkilleon snapped, breaking up the fight. They all dispersed and went back to their sides of the base, Hera watched with disgust before she turned to Rex "Was it ever like this in the clone wars?" she asked him.
Rex shook his head, "No, but nothing like what happened to Ahkilleon on Jabiim ever happened in the Clone Wars, on the Republic or Jedi side that was."
"Are we wrong, Captain, for keeping it a secret?" Hera asked him.
Rex looked over at all the Militia crates filled with supplies, weapons, medicine with battle droids moving them around. "I don't know, but he's trying."
"Trying?" Zeb asked confusedly, "Look I'm not saying he's perfect, but you all are being too hard on him." Zeb said.
"Rex, he-" "Survived." Rex cut her off, "What would any of you done in that situation, captured, on your knees surrounded by terrorists, I knew Nolan and his men. They were brave soldiers once, but they got desperate, didn't trust outlanders and anyone who didn't fight with them were collaborators in their eyes. I'm not condoning what he did, but if it was to stop them from killing an entire city what would you have done Hera, Zeb?" Rex asked them, the three of them had all seen the horrors of war. Hera and Zeb both lost their homeworlds, Rex had lost Kamino at the hands of the Empire.
Over at the Militia side of the base, the offending Militia soldier was bound hands behind his back and forced to his knees in front of Ahkilleon, Breacher was next to him. Ahkilleon paced "What started the fight, Lt.?"
Breacher smoked his cigar, but before he could speak the offending tiger barked "The damn reb insulted us sir, can't let that slide."
"So you struck him over words?" Ahkilleon asked him.
"After everything we have done for them, yeah." the regular said behind his helmet, "Remove his helmet." Ahkilleon said looking down, Breacher took it off and they revealed an umbaran with a thin sheen of brown hair, he had white eyes that matched his skin and he looked down from Ahkilleon's gaze, "What's your name soldier."
The soldier held his head up "Bron sir." he said, a thick outer rim accent at the end of every word.
"Lt. What is the codex for disciplinary actions for fighting?" Ahkilleon asked Breacher the other Militia watching in attention.
Breacher chewed on his cigar, "... Ten lashes, sir."
Ahkilleon turned to him, eyes wide but jaw fixed "Throw him in the brig."
"Um, what brig?" Breacher asked him, "Throw him a hole than, the rest of you. Dismissed." Ahkilleon said to the other Tigers.
Two B5 droids dragged Bron away and Ahkilleon loosened up, "Lashes, we train them to fight and then we punish them for it, how is that any better than the Empire?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Commander, you need to keep discipline." Breacher said, but Ahkilleon could sense there was more "But?"
Breacher sighed, "Bron was defending the unit's honor, the men won't like him being punished for it."
"The men should have stopped it." Ahkilleon said back to Breacher.
He stroked his muttonchops, "Maybe, but their on edge. Loosening four men with nothing to show for it, the battle in Hutt Space, and we're just sitting here?"
"Do I need to do it, flogging?" Ahkilleon asked Breacher "If you want to keep the men's respect, through fear, yes, they're loyal but not because they're scared of you. That's why I don't like being in charge."
Ahkilleon shut his eyes, "... Thank you Breacher, you've given me a lot to think about."
THE NEXT MORNING
Kanan, Ezra and Sabine's camp
Kanan woke up first, early in the morning, the sun hadn't yet risen and the sky was starting to turn into it's morning shade of soft orange, he got up and walked over to the fire pit that had long been doused the night before, he started to make a morning fire for breakfast and more importantly, morning caff. Kanan filled a small kettle with water and then looked through some of the crates to pull out a box of caff, he poured some of the dark flakes in it and set in on the fire yawning. "Sneaking up on me?" Kanan asked as Ahkilleon walked down into the grove, his speeder bike parked up above.
"Don't much care for hiding, you know that Kanan." Ahkilleon said as he walked over to the fire, "May I join you?"
"... to help Sabine train?"
"Maybe later, I have another problem…." Ahkilleon bit his lip "I'd like your advice." Ahkilleon said.
Kanan paused as the caff brewed, "Sit."
Ahkilleon found a rock and sat on it across from him, "What is it, Ahkilleon?"
"One of my men attacked one of Sato's, the Militia Codex demands he's to be flogged for his transgression." he said plainly.
Kanan leaned forward, "And you don't want to."
"You don't think I can?" Ahkilleon asked him, "Not what I said, I can sense you'd more than willingly whip an entire army of stormtroopers, but one of your own. Not to mention you felt that lash not that long ago, but there's more isn't there?" Kanan asked him.
Ahkilleon gave a short nod and his lips turned into a thin line, "I need my men to follow me, the way the Ghost follows you. Not by fear, not by lash, but by example."
"That almost sounded like a complement, Ahkilleon." Kanan said dryly, Ahkilleon rubbed his hands together like he often did when he was thinking or had some internal issue he didn't know the answer for yet, "... What do I do, Master Jarrus?" Ahkilleon asked.
Kanan had his visor on, he reached up to his face and removed it so Ahkilleon could see his milky white eyes, the sight gone from them but not the intent, not the presence of the man who survived the Clone Wars, the Great Purge, and a hundred other dangers that had made him the man he was today. "No."
"No?" Ahkilleon asked him, "No what?"
"No, I'm not going to give you advice." Kanan daid picking up a cup and starting to pour the caff, "Why not?" Ahkilleon asked, standing to his feet, insulted.
Kanan let the caff simmer, "You, are not my padawan, you've made that very clear in not heeding my council before, your Jedi are not my Jedi. You wanted to be your own man, so now you are, you make your own decision and live with it."
Balling his hands into fists, Ahkilleon uncurled them, seeing no point in continuing the conversation, "You're right, you aren't my Master, I was dumb to come here."
Kanan said nothing, he just let Ahkilleon walk up back to his speeder and drive off, he rode all the way back to the base and the sun had risen up over the base, with a red hue. Lt. Breacher had already assembled the Militia in two rows with Bron on his knees, hands bound behind his back, the pale umbaran, had his head down not saying a word. Some of the rebels had woken too and kept their distance, mostly Sato's men. But Hera, Zeb and Rex were there. Commander Sato had emerged from his quarters walking forward with a guard of two men, when Ahkilleon left his bike behind.
"What is the meaning of this, Tano?" Commander Sato demanded.
Ahkilleon looked down at Bron, but didn't turn to look at Sato, "You asked me to discipline my men, and I will." Ahkilleon said, turning to Lt. Breacher.
Breacher had no cigar this time, he reluctantly turned and headed toward a small box on the rocks, opening it, to pull out a whip. The Three Specter's gaped seeing it, and Bron shut his eyes knowing the lash was coming, "We do not torture men on my base, Tano." Sato said.
Again Ahkilleon didn't even look at him, "They are not your men, they are mine." Ahkilleon said as he held his hand out, Breacher gave him the whip and Ahkilleon loosened the long leather snake and cracked it, the sound of its bite echoed around like the crack of a hammer on stone. "The Militia Codex is the law that binds the Militia together, to break them is to break the Militia. Corporal Bron you stand accused of striking an ally, a fellow soldier. Ten lashes will be your penance."
Bron looked up swallowing and coughed out, "Yes…. sir."
Ahkilleon walked around him, Breacher went up to Bron and took out a small leather bound stick, sticking it in his mouth to bite down on. Ahkilleon squeezed the whip in his metal hand and then drew it back, and followed through.
CRACK
"HrrRRR!" Bron yelled through his teeth biting down before Ahkilleon loosed another, and another, four, five, six, seven, the whip cracking with each strike, Bron's skin taking the lashing turning red before the eighth broke the skin and he began to bleed from his back till the tenth lash fell. The Tigers all looked at Bron still on his knees face covered in sweat from the beating, he spat out the rod. Ahkilleon waved his hands and to free Bron from his bindings, he fell forward gasping before Ahkilleon came up behind him and pulled him to his feet. Some of the men started to leave "No, you are not dismissed, the punishment isn't over." Ahkilleon told his Tigers, Breacher looked at him puzzled.
Bron went pale, before Ahkilleon forced the whip into Bron's hands, "Commander?" Breacher asked.
"The shame of one soldier, is the shame of his commanding officer." Ahkilleon undid the harness on his chest, and began to remove his armor "A failure in discipline, is a failure of command, my failure." Ahkilleon said looking to his men as he removed his tunic, "I will not tolerate that failure in my Tigers, your failure is my failure, your pain is my pain. Corporal Bron you will strike me ten times with the lash." Ahkilleon knelt down on his knees, hands on his lap, back to Bron who backed up "What?" Bron asked. Among the people who'd come out to watch, Rau and the Vos-Ventress twins looking like the rest.
Ahkilleon cocked his head "That's an order soldier." Ahkilleon said, Bron looked to Breacher and the other Tigers who were gawking at the whole thing. "Strike!" Ahkilleon said louder.
Bron still didn't move "STRIKE!" Ahkilleon howled before he felt the crack of the whip, ten lashes against his back, each one fiercer than the last. And unlike Bron, Ahkilleon's face didn't even flinch at the pain, adding ten new marks to his back already riddled with whip scars. The old scars had been reopened, blood trailing down his back before he got up. Bron dropped the whip, his hand trembling, "Commander I…" Ahkilleon placed his hand on his shoulder "Find Corto, be healed and return." Ahkilleon said as he picked up his tunic and wrapped into his back, his blood seeping into the blue fabric. He felt the Rebels' eyes on him, all of them silent, stunned. But that silence was broken by the banging of fists on breastplates, Breacher had started it and the remaining twenty Tigers were doing the same in unison, the Militia salute, he'd disciplined Bron, but he had shown loyalty to his men by sharing in the pain, their pain.
Ahkilleon walked over to Sato, "My man is disciplined, the matter is closed." Ahkilleon said looking Commander Sato in the eye, his height even with Sato's. Jun's face was stone and Ahkilleon didn't wait for a glib reply before he headed to his ship.
TWO DAYS LATER
Kanan, Ezra and Sabine's camp
The sun was setting again on the grove, Kanan stood up above on the higher ground with a holopad in his hand, down below Ezra and Sabine were training with the wooden sabers, Hera spoke to him on a holodevice "It's been a couple of days, I wanted to see how things are going?" she asked.
"Slowly. Ezra's still taking her through the basic forms with the training sabers." Kanan told her.
"Training sabers?" Hera asked "You mean those sticks you and Zeb made?"
Kanan shrugged "I'm being careful. Were you careful with Ezra? I don't remember him fighting with a stick." Hera asked him.
"Well, maybe I'm trying to do things differently this time." Kanan insisted he knew what he was doing.
Hera folded her arms "Or maybe because she doesn't have the Force, you don't believe she can do this?"
"No, the Force resides in all living things. But you have to be open to it. Sabine is blocked, her mind is conflicted, she's so expressive and yet so tightly wound. She's so…" he trailed off.
"Mandalorian?" Hera asked him.
He sighed glad he didn't have to say it "Very."
"I'll be sending out supplies." Hera smiled at him. "Is there anything specific that you need?
"Patience, understanding?" Kanan asked her, Hera gave a soft chuckle "I'll see what I can do."
"What about your end, this fight with the Militia?" Kanan asked her, "I just don't get it Kanan, Ahkilleon was whipped, he did the same to that corporal and then he let the Corporal whip him and the Militia, they… saluted him?"
Kanan scratched his beard "He made a show of loyalty, consider what we've seen of the Militia, they value strength, cunning, and bravery no wonder Ahkilleon joined them."
"It's just so… so?" "Brutal?" Kanan asked her "I don't get what Sabine sees in him?"
"You said she's a Mandalorian, last I checked they valued, strength, bravery-" "And honor, Ahkilleon the things he's done, the stuff we know I can't just get over that Kanan, he killed a child?" Hera said to him.
Kanan was silent, "You heard him, he didn't mean to." "But he did, he turned his back on the Rebellion, he attacked entire worlds and he came back expecting us to help him and… oh stars." Hera said, palming her face "Just like Sabine?"
Hera was silent, knowing he was right she cut the comms and Kanan returned to the sparring match between Ezra and Sabine, they were hacking away at one another with the training sabers, Kanan noticed Sabine trying to parry with a different style than a jedi would use "That's not going to work." He pointed out.
"Working so far." Sabine blocked Ezra and then countered, Ezra smiling and replied "I think you're doing well."
"Opinion noted." Kanan said as he observed them training, they continued to spare left and right off one another's counters, parries and thrusts. It went on for a few hours before Rau rode up on a speeder bike towing a hovercraft with crates, "I've got your supplies." Rau said to them, Ezra noticed him and Sabine thought she had an opening before she attacked, Ezra sensing her incoming strike blocked and swung at her feet knocking her to the ground on her ass.
"You overcommitted." Kanan scolded, Sabine swatted away one of Ezra's hand before she got up.
"Good. Anyone else have an opinion they want to share?" Sabine snapped at them.
Kanan sensing her stress, looked to Ezra "Let's take a break, Ezra, help unload these supplies."
The padawan's eyes went wide and he flung his hands in the air in protest "What? I won. Shouldn't I get the break?" Ezra asked, Kanan and Rau just stared at him. Kanan groaned setting down the stick and starting to unload the supplies.
"Word is it's been tough going." Rau said getting out off his bike and approaching Sabine, "I brought you something, since you're partially in this mess on my recommendation." he said holding a small briefcase. It like Rau's new armor was something new, Rau had replaced his flight blues with his own Mandalorian beskar iron armor, painted blue and gray, he still wore the pilot cap over his orange hair exposing his face.
Sabine mockingly replied "I'm sorry, "partially"? How about completely?" she hissed, the training only putting her in an even more foul mood than usual.
"To make up for that, you can have these." he said down to her, opening the case inside were two pieces of metal armor, beskar iron no less "Whoa. Mandalorian vambraces?" Sabine said seeing them, each one had implanted devices in the top of the vambraces.
Sabine set down her stick and picked them up "Where did you get these?" she asked.
"Try them on." Rau said to her, "Grappling line, paralyzing darts, repulsor. All designed to combat the abilities of the Jedi." he said smirking, anyone who knew history would know that the Mandalorians and the Jedi had centuries old rivalry.
Rau leaned in "Go take Bridger down a peg or two." she picked up the training saber after fitting on the vambraces and heading back over to the opening in the grove to spar, Ezra picked up his saber before Rau and Kanan sat down on some rocks.
"What have you got there?" Erza asked her taking in position one, Sabine held up her training saber with new found confidence.
"More than you can handle."
"Yeah? Well, maybe I won't go easy on you this time." Ezra said before they began the duel, Ezra attacked her with his advanced skills with the sword, Sabine blocked and parried before she struck again, Ezra avoided her strikes and attacked her with his own. But when he ran at her Sabine held up the repulsor on her right gauntlet and sent a blast of fire at Ezra that disoriented him, when he staggered back Sabine shot out a grappling cord that locked around Ezra's legs, she pulled knocking him down and holding her training saber to his neck "And that's your head."
Ezra swatted the stick away "Hey! Not fair, where did you get those?" He snapped
Smug in her victory, Sabine chimed out "Special delivery."
"Hey!" Kanan shouted storming toward them off his seat "Is this a game for you?"
"No game, just outsmarting my opponent." Sabine said confident with her new vambraces, she took a fighting stance holding her training saber aloft "Care to take a shot?" She asked in challenge to the Jedi, Sabine then used her grappling line to ensnare Kanan, the band glowing bright orange. Despite being blind, Kanan struggled for only a second before his lightsaber activated, snapping the cord to break free and knock Sabine to the ground.
He held the saber over her "History lesson, the Jedi won the war with Mandalore, these tricks will amount to something, maybe save you from time to time, but they won't keep you alive in the long run… Only training and discipline will do that." he sighed more frustrated at himself for loosening his patience with her.
"The only thing I'm learning is that Ezra must be really gifted to learn as well as he has from a lousy teacher like you." she said getting back up, only able to get knocked down so many times.
"Maybe she needs a different teacher?" Ahkilleon had appeared on top of the grove, leaning on his speeder bike, hands resting on his lightsabers. Kanan turned to him "You're not needed here." Kanan said to him.
Ahkilleon walked down unclipping his lightsabers "I disagree, three days and Sabine is still getting knocked down. Even with her upgrades?" Ahkilleon said walking five feet from Kanan, "He told you to leave." Ezra added.
"I heard him, and he can leave, if he beats me."
"This just got interesting." Rau said leaning in, "What are you on about?" Kanan asked him.
Ahkilleon rolled his shoulders, popping his neck "I took your advice, made my own decision and lived with it. Your training methods are outdated, Sabine knows to play to her strengths and I know just how much more stronger than she thinks she is."
"And what qualifies you to teach her over us, Ahkilleon?" Ezra asked him squeezing his training saber.
Ahkilleon rolled his eyes "Jerec, Sariss, Boc, Maw, Yun those two other Inquisitors and the one I killed-" "You made your point, but no."
"Let Sabine choose, you or me?" Ahkilleon suggested "Or, prove it."
"Prove what?" Sabine asked, Kanan's fingers itched on his lightsaber "Prove your the better swordsman Kanan, I know that behind all that discipline and patience you still remember what it's like to test your abilities, your skill?" Ahkilleon asked him.
Kanan squeezed his lightsaber so tight his knuckles turned white under his fingerless gloves, "Come on?" Ahkilleon asked him, "You've got to wonder just like I have, 'Can I take him? Is he better than me? Was I ever that fast?" Ahkilleon held his two sabers in each hand, he spun them turning both blades in a reverse grip, red and blue. "You said to yourself, we're not even in the same order? So let's see-who's-better!" Ahkilleon gritted his teeth with a smile, his force power rising.
"... Fine." Kanan growled back. "Wait- what?" Sabine asked, Kanan walked forward and took a stance, saber at the ready for one on one "That's Form Two, Makashi best for duels." Ezra whispered to Sabine.
Ahkilleon smiled as he spun his lightsabers, he twirled the sabers before he made his stance "What?" Ezra gasped.
"What, what is it?" Sabine asked as Ahkilleon took a wide stance one foot in front of the other, with each saber held above and below "Form Four, Shien, Ahsoka's style offensive and more aggressive." Ezra said before Kanan said "And pushes Jedi to the dark side."
Ahkilleon attacked and the duel commenced, Sabine, Rau and Ezra watched with intrigue as the lightsabers crashed off one another, Kanan went for great heavy strikes with both hands battering Ahkilleons defense, he glided his sabers of his and countered to parry. They locked sabers, Ahkilleon crossing his in an x guard before he broke it pushing Kanan backwards, Kanan switched to another form them adjusting his footing and grip to block "That's Form 3 Ataru, force reliant but aggressive." Ezra explained pointing at Kanan who started to move faster, quicker with wide, fast, and powerful swings, against Ahkilleon. Despite Kanan's size, and Ahkilleon who was only a few inches shorter than Kanan leapt over him in a backflip the two of them moved around the dirt in quick lightning moves showing their skill was way above anything Sabine had yet to master.
Kanan looked like he had the upper hand twisting and leaping with the force to enhance his movements, "Yield!" Kanan smashed his lightsabers against Ahkilleon's blue one, and he swiped his red at his feet. Kanan leapt flipping over him and throwing himself at Ahkilleon when he landed, moving beyond what Ezra had seen Kanan do before, as somersaulted in the air to avoid both of Ahkilleon's swords at the same time. He landed going for a thrust in Ahkilleon's blindside, but Ahkilleon side stepped before he twirled his lightsabers back to a forward grip countered and assumed a new stance "No way?" Ezra said before Kanan sensed the form as Ahkilleon hardened his glance at him, fixing his jaw he attacked Kanan with each saber one after the other, forcing Kanan to move faster to hold his defense "What, what is it?" Sabine asked.
"Form seven, Juyo Kanan calls a Malignant grace, aggressive and erratic focusing solely on offense." Ezrz explained but Kanan managed to still hold his own, even if it was on the defenses. Ahkilleon using his youth and speed in every strike, Kanan gritted his teeth and- "ENOUGH!" Sabine shouted.
Both Jedi stopped their match, "I didn't come out here to watch you two guys wave your sticks at one another, to see who had the bigger lightsaber, you brought me out here to train and you're not helping!" She said pointing to Kanan and then Ahkilleon.
"Sabine I-" Ahkilleon tried to say something but she flung the training saber at him and stormed off out of the camp to be alone, Ezra scowled at him before he followed her. Rau sat back down and started to open the supplies while Kanan grunted "Now look what you did, do you just wake up and think 'how can I annoy everyone today'."
Ahkilleon rolled his eyes "At least I don't treat everyone else like children?"
"You-Are-Fifteen!" Kanan shouted at him hands in the air.
As Kanan and Ahkilleon argued back and forth, Sabine wandered out into the coral forest kicking up sand, she found a clump of rocks to sit on before she heard "Hey?" She looked up to see Ezra.
She watched him approaching, "Not now Ezra".
"Look… I just wanted to say I know what it's like. Believe me, Kanan's not the easiest teacher to have, but he means well." Ezra said coming up to her, she looked away "Does he? Do any of them? I know how to fight, I believe I can learn to use that sword…. I just don't want everything that comes with it." she said to him exhausted from all the training and all the berating.
Ezra was quiet, thinking on it "You mean your family?"
"I'm a disgrace to them, Ezra. A traitor."
"But that's not true." Ezra said softly, "To them it is." she argued.
"You don't know, no one does…." "Except Ahkilleon?" Ezra asked.
"What?" Sabine asked eyes wide, wondering if he knew "We've been treating Ahkilleon like a traitor, a disgrace, is that why you and he are so close?" Ezra asked her.
"I don't want to talk about these things." She said pulling her hair "How can I lead my people?How can I go back there and face them?" she snapped.
Ezra got up and backed away seeing she wanted to be alone "I'm sorry, Sabine, at least you have parents to go back to." he said and Sabine remembered the stark fact that Ezra had lost both his parents, Ahkilleon had lost his mother and father, Proxy even. Hera lost her Mother, Kanan never even knew his parents the closest thing to a parent he had was his own Master.
"Ezra…" she said before she sat down rubbing her face trying to think, she heard footsteps and looked up to see Ahkilleon coming out of some shadows, "Sorry, about that. Things hectic right now in the Militia. I took it out on Kanan." Ahkilleon said.
"Yeah, he can be frustrating, but Ezra says he means well." Sabine said as she looked out at the setting sun. Ahkilleon said nothing, "How do you do it?"
"Do what?" Ahkilleon asked her, "How do you push people away?"
Ahkilleon shut her eyes knowing she was right, he did push them away "I think it comes from growing up always moving, knowing that you won't see some people when they leave for the last time." He said walking over to her.
"Is that how they taught you, at Arcadia?" she asked, he shook his head "No, Master Stormblade would give us training sabers, not wood ones. Low energy, like how my mother trained me." he said walking over to her and joining her but he didn't sit down.
She looked at his lightsabers on his chest, "Kanan said that the lightsabers were flowing energy, that's what made them heavier than they look, are yours?"
Ahkilleon looked at them and took them off his chest, his blue saber made of the chrome silver metal with a standard grip, slightly curved to reflect his mothers design, and the red a dark imperial plastoid metal of black and iron, straight and rigid, together the two sabers couldn't be more different, he looked at them a long time "The red one is heavier, but the blue is lighter. I usually use the red one for offense and the blue for defense and somehow I find a way to balance all that energy." he said as he held them out to her. "Powerful dark, powerful light, balance." Ahkilleon said.
"Then maybe 'you' should teach me snips." She said with her amber eyes batting at him, he smiled shaking his head, "No, Kanan should."
She cocked her head and got up "Ugh but he's so… Iron Bull Headed."
Ahkilleon snickered "No doubt, but and I can't believe I'm saying this. He is a good Jedi and a better man than I, I see now why the New Jedi wanted him for the Council, he may be blind but he sees more than people give him credit for."
"Was… that a pun?" Sabine asked looking back at him, he shook his head "No, but my Master Lord Asimov is the Master I needed, my mother did her best. But she always saw me as her son first, student second. With Asimov, a Warlord and me a…. Arrogant, stubborn teenager with too much anger. He's molded me into the soldier I always wanted to be. He took my aggression, my pain and he helped me channel it into a power for the Militia." Ahkilleon held up his hand showing her the force lighting.
She looked at it before he closed his fist, "We're all part of the force, it resides in everything but our own force, given form is who we are. I know what that sword means to your people, it's as important as you are to me." Ahkilleon said lowering his arm "No one is more worthy of it, than you."
"But the law says that whoever wields it has to defeat the previous owner in combat, we never beat Maul?" Sabine asked him, Ahkilleon shrugged his head "Technically, that was my mother, but she never really had any interest in ruling an entire warrior race. Now that she's gone, it's up for grabs I'd say? And who better than the strongest, most beautiful, bombastic crazy girl I've ever known." he said with a smile.
Back at the camp, Kanan was sitting off in the distance with his holodisk speaking to Hera, the only one he trusted to listen to him, "Teaching Ezra wasn't easy, but you did it well." Hera said to him.
"But what was all that stuff with Ahkilleon, he just came out of nowhere?" Kanan asked her, Hera shrugged "We got at transmission, the Empire is backing the Hutt's against the Militia and they're taking heavy casualties, we're gathering intel in exchange for the supplies. It's clear that Ahkilleon want's be there to fight but he's stuck here."
"And he took it out on me, great." Kanan sighed.
Hera smiled "I'd take it as a compliment, he sees you as a hmm- worthy opponent?" Hera asked, "Jedi don't seek out opponents, we try to resolve conflict before they start. Let's get I'm sure you'll find a way to get through to Sabine,."
"It's not the same, Ezra was eager to learn, sometimes too eager. I was the one who was holding back."
"And that's not what you're doing now?" Hera asked.
"No."
"And yet, you still won't let her train with the Darksaber." Hera pointed out.
Kanan drooped his shoulder "Look, Sabine is a capable warrior, in some ways, more so than Ezra, but she can't or won't find balance within herself, until she does, wielding an actual lightsaber is far too dangerous for her."
Hera pointed out "By letting her pretend with that stick,you're only encouraging her not to commit to this."
Kanan, frustrated pursed his lips into a thin line "You're not listening to me. If I let her use the Darksaber, she will get hurt.
"She's already hurt, her family hurt her more than any sword could. You don't see it because she doesn't want you to." Hera said looking intently, and even though he couldn't see her he could feel that motherly gaze.
"But you can?" Kanan asked her, Hera frowned "Because I know what it's like when people you love don't believe in you, when they let you walk away. Remember how hard it was for her to trust us and… and oh stars, it's our fault." she clapped her forehead with her hand, dragging it down across her face.
Kanan gapped "Ooooh damn, we practically pushed Ahkilleon and Sabine together."
"Treating him like a disgrace." Hera said "Not supporting his choices. Being really rough on him when he came back?" Kanan said Hera held her hands up "Alright, arlight, maybe we've been a bit judgmental but that's different he-" "Went to war, he's seen just how terrible the war his parents fought in is like, and he's here now trying to make it work?" Kanan said.
Hera refocused on the real issue at hand, Sabine's training "Give Sabine the sword. Let her own it and who she is, help Sabine face her demons and then maybe we can get over this wall between Ahkilleon and us."
"I don't know." Kanan sighed "I know you don't, But this isn't about you."
Behind him Ezra and Rau were sitting in the camp a fire lit crackling around them. "I didn't think she'd be gone this long." Ezra said up to Rau.
"She'll return. Then we'll see." Rau said stroking it with a stick "I know she can do it, but it just seems like Kanan is asking her to learn everything at once."
Rau calmly replied "She just needs more time."
"Time is a luxury, one the galaxy seems to be running out of." Ezra said looking up at the stars, before he sensed a presence approaching he looked up to gaze over at Sabine and walked ahead of Ahkilleon, "She's back."
They walked into the grove, "I owe you an apology." Kanan said to Sabine approaching her "I can say the same." She replied. In the silence Kanan reached behind his back and produced the darksaber, the angular hilt shocked Sabine seeing it being offered to her at last.
"Maybe I should practice more first." Sabine said hesitantly, but Kanan held it up closer.
"Take it. It's yours." Kanan said to Sabine, she did so and held it up in both hands "Ignite the blade." Kann said stepping back to turn his lightsaber on, Sabine did so and she almost dropped it "Whoa, it's heavier than I thought."
"Energy constantly flows through the crystal. You're not fighting with a simple blade as much as you are directing a current of power. Your thoughts, your actions, they become energy. They flow through the crystal as well, and become a part of the blade. The blades will be drawn to each other." He said taking out his lightsaber before he faced her in a combat stance.
Kanan let her get onguard before he attacked "Block high."
"There's pull. Can you feel it?" Kanan asked as they met blades. He attacked again adn Sabine blocked it "That sword is old, heavy, but powerful, respect its strength."
"Block low." he attacked her feet, she blocked.
"High." high again and she did so.
"Middle."
"High."
"Low."
"Middle." he went through the motions with her, the lightsabers flashing with the energy on energy buzz, humming in the air "Good. Let's work on a series. Are you ready?"
Sabine gave a steady nod of confidence "Yes. Remember the forms Ezra taught you. Take ready position." Kanan instructed and then he started to move with his other hand locked on his lightsaber "We'll start slow. One, two, three, four, five, six… Faster." They went through the moves Ezra had shown her, only this time Sabine responded quicker with an actual sword in her hands.
"One, two, three, four, five, six. One, two, three, four, five, six." Kanan said as he attacked and she blocked, but Kanan was able to get one heavy attack in that knocked her to the ground.
"You're making it easy on me." he said helping her up "Ready , two, three, four, five, six." he attacked again and she met him blow for blow, the years of mandalorian discipline running through her blood proving it's metal to the jedi teachings.
"The blade feels lighter." Sabine said a little out of breath, but still steady "You're connecting with it. It's becoming a part of you." Kanan said as the two of them continued to train "But you cannot rely solely on the blade, you must use all your skills together." he said walking around her, he attacked again knocking the lightsaber from her hand she dove and used her new grappling hook to pull the lightsaber back into her hand.
"Ready position." Kanan attacked again this time without saying the motions for her to anticipate where and when he'd attack, "You'll have to do better." he snapped pushing his advance.
Ezra gapped "Whoa." Ezra gasped getting up but Ray stopped him, seeing her keep pace with him, Ahkilleon smiled as he stood arms crossed.
"You're not fighting me, you're fighting yourself and losing." Kanan scolded her still attacking, Sabine backed up "You're not committed to this, you should quit." He said as they moved around the grove like it was a great arena.
"I don't quit. I never quit!" Sabine yelled ferociously attacking Kanan, "Really? That's not what it looks like." He barked.
"You did run, didn't you?" he snapped at her as they locked lightsabers "No!" She protested.
"But that's what your people believe, isn't it? You ran from the Empire. You ran from your family." Kanan continued to berate her and she swung the lightsaber madly wanting to silence the man. They fought to the edge of the grove to the higher rocks parrying away at one another.
Sabine shook her head "Lies!" Sabine went berserk at that, "So what's the truth!" he demand, Sabine attacked him and she was able to put Kanan on the defense yelling with every strike "The truth is that I left to save everyone. My mother, my father, my brother!" she howled "Everything I did was for family, for Mandalore! I built weapons, terrible weapons, but the Empire used them on Mandalore, on friends, on family." She said as she attacked Kanan letting all her inner anger out, the dark side swirling out of the blade.
"People that I knew. They controlled us through ! Fear of weapons I helped create…." She used her repulsor to send fire from it to knock Kanan back, "I helped enslave my people!" she knocked him down and held the saber over him "I wanted to stop it, I had to stop it, I spoke out!" She said her voice cracking as she told them the truth "I spoke out to save them, to save everyone!" she berated, Ezra's eyes softened hearing it and he couldn't help but look at Ahkilleon in a sick twisted way he could see how similar Ezra was to Sabine, his world was Phoenix Squadron before the Specter's arrived, his friends the pilots who died, his world his mother, Proxy.
"But when I did… My family didn't stand with me, they chose the Empire. They left me, gave me no choice. The Empire wanted to destroy worlds, and they did, they destroyed mine." She said, and Ezra thought of how Ahkilleon had always questioned the rebel methods, the tactics that never got them anywhere but crumbs.
Sabine lowered her guard and Kanan started to get up "The Empire rules with fear, and not everyone can be as strong as you've been. Your family is in a prison, one of their own making. It's up to you to help them out of it." Kanan said to her turning off his lightsaber.
"But how? Why? Why would they believe me? Why would they follow me?" she asked, Rau had gotten to his feet "I know this might not be what you want to hear, but for what it's worth, I would follow you." Rau said before he dropped to his knee, a powerful submission of respect.
"So would I." Ezra said "And I mean it." he knelt
Kanan nodded looking over at Ahkilleon then to Sabine "You've come a long way in a very short you go from here is up to you, but know, this family will stand by you no matter what you choose." Kanan said to her, and Sabine looked over at the Militia, specifically with Ahkilleon who stood apart from Fenn and Ezra.
She turned to them, "All of us?"
She said looking back at Kanan, who nodded his head when Ahkilleon approached her, "I made a promise to someone I would never kneel again. A Ni Kelir motir de gar, jii bal ratiin." she smiled at that.
She looked down at the three guys kneeling, "Can you all get up, this is getting awkward."
"Fine by me, I like being taller than you." Ezra said, Sabine gave him a playful jab turning off the lightsaber "I think we've spent enough time out here in the wilds, I could use an actual shower at base." Kanan said as he dusted off some durt from his green tunic.
Ezra gave a sigh of relief "Finally we can get some real food, not these rations."
"We can leave the supplies here for now, the beacons we set up will keep it safe." Kanan said walking over to the speeder, "And maybe, I'll let Ahkilleon show you some stuff, Ezra." Kanan said with a smirk.
"Ahkilleon?" Kanan looked back to see the boy in question hadn't moved "I'll follow soon, I need to think on something before I come back." Kanan without a word turned, the others got in the speeder and Rau took his bike before they rode off.
Ahkilleon waited till their speeder engines were fading into the distance, "Come on, I know you're there?"
He was answered by the sounds of heavy rock moving like in a slow landslide, he looked up at what should have been a hairy boulder, only for it to be the Bendu. The mysterious behemoth that lived on Atollon, he smiled at them "The rift between you and them seems to be mending, yet you hesitate to embrace it."
"You know for someone so powerful and wise, you sure do like to hide a lot?" Ahkilleon said to the gorilla.
Bendu snickered, leaning on his knuckles, "Did your own Militia not hide for many years?"
"They were preparing, training, building an armada and army. That same army is lightyears away fighting for freedom, and I'm here debating with a talking… whatever you are." he said gesturing to the orange rock monster.
Bendu smiled "You wish to return to war, to carnage, why are mortals so eager for conflict?" Bendu asked.
"I wouldn't expect you to understand, the jedi may preach there is no death. But once we die, all that's left are our deeds, the names of the Jedi who wrote themselves into history did it all in war. Odan Urr was the first jedi with Battle Meditation he brought low the rebels of Kirrek to unify what would one day be the Republic Core and he then led those rebels alongside the Legions of Teta to defeat the Sith. Ulic Qel Droma, Barrison Dray, and Vandar in the great Hyperspace War. Revan Malak stopped the Mandalorian Crusades, Satellite Shan held the Republic together even till she died, even my mothers generation they still talk about Anakin Skywalker like he's about lead a charge to save the Militia…. I grew up with all these legends, now it's my time." Ahkilleon said to Bendu who heard him.
He leaned in "I know of these legends of yours, I have even met them."
Ahkilleon gapped "How?"
"Once like you, they came here, drawn by the nexus of the force. I spoke with them, warned them about their crusades, their ambitions some listened but more sought the glory you crave and fell to the dark side that you carry so close to your heart." Bendu lifted one giant finger and gently pressed it against the dark iron lightsaber on Ahkilleon's chest.
Ahkilleon felt the cold piece of iron, "I'm not afraid of the dark side."
"Dark side, light side, how many others have you thought they could bridge the two together where only one ever 'truly' succeeded." Bendu said.
Ahkilleon looked down "Revan, you met Revan?" Ahkilleon up to see Bendu was gone, he rolled his eyes "Typical."
LATER
Ahkilleon went back to Chopper base and rolled up to his ship to see the Specter's were standing outside of his ship, he sighed "Alright, what did my men do this time?" Ahkilleon asked him to push the kickstand down for the bike and getting off, he then looked at Chopper "Did Chopper do something?" he asked, pointing at the droid.
Chopper honked and held out his claws exasperated at the accusation "Don't start, you've got a war record a mile long." Zeb grunted.
"Actually we all wanted to talk to you, Ahkilleon." Hera said gesturing to the crew, Kanan, Ezra, Zeb, Rex and Sabine, "About?" Ahkilleon asked.
Hera looked at everyone "About us, all of us, even you. This gap, we may not agree on everything, we may not approve of you being part of the Militia but at the end of the day we're all here on the same side. And we don't expect you to accept us as a replacement for the family you lost, but we want you to know we're here for you always." She said putting her hand on Sabine's shoulder letting her know it was for everyone, not just Ahkilleon.
Ahkilleon pressed his lips in a thin line fixing his jaw, "Zeb?" Ezra asked as the purple hairy tough guy was hiding a tear "I'm fine."
This made Ahkilleon snicker, "Thank you Hera, I know I've been a real… asshole, and I know I've done terrible things, and when the time is right. I will tell Jabiim the truth one day. But the Empire, the Emperor, is the true enemy."
"And if that means we can get Mandalore in the fight, all the better." Sabine said, looking at him, her hand on the darksaber that was on her belt. She approached him "Which means… if we're not keeping anymore secrets." Sabine grabbed Ahkilleon and pulled him into a kiss right in front of everyone, Rex's eyes got wide, Chopper let out a screech spinning his head, Ezra's jaw found itself acquainted with the ground while Zeb rolled his eyes. Kanan and Hera looked at one another, Hera whispering with a smile through her teeth "iblameyou."
Sabine broke the kiss and held up their interlocked hands. "That's right, we're dating anyone who has a problem, I've got an answer." She held up holding the darksaber, that made Zeb and Rex laugh.
Ezra flung his hands in the air "Whoa, whoa, whoa, how long has this been a thing?" Ezra asked frantically, walking up to them.
Zeb thought about it "Hmm, was that before or after that stuff with Sato's nephew?"
"Oh way before, they were making kissy eyes all day." Rex teased, making Ahkilleon blush furiously.
"Wha-aat?" Ezra asked looking back "Oh come on, am I the last to know?" Ezra spat at them, "Pretty much, Ezra." Ahkilleon said.
Ezra turned back "Oh… ohohoho, that means Sabine is your knight in shinning armor princess."
"What?" Ahkilleon asked Ezra, bringing up his nickname, "Well she's got a cold sword, cool armor, all she's missing is a righteous steed and she'll sweep you off your feet, Princess Ahkilleon."
Ahkilleon slapped his forehead "You're incourable, Ezra." Ahkilleon scoffed Ezra just shrugged "Well I don't meet a lot of girls, besides Sabine and the hairless harpy over there." he said pointing to Corto and Yumi who were training when they stopped to see a ship descending, a Militia transport ship no less.
"Well, come to Arcadia sometime I'll introduce the dashing rebel jedi to the students. You'll have your pick." Ahkilleon said patting him on the back, still holding Sabine's hand and hugging Ezra in a brotherly matter. Sabine rolled her arms "Boys." She said hugging the two of them "Hehe Kids." Zeb said coming up to hug them all "Come on you three get in o this." Zeb said.
Ahkilleon looked up at the big purple lasat "Can we not."
"To late." Hera said as they all had a group hug before the Militia ship just landed, with Turok walking out. He was wearing his long duster with his beskar axe over his shoulder as he walked up "Well seems like you all worked it out?" Turok asked them.
The specter's broke the hug, awkwardly before Turok locked eyes with Ahkilleon "Come on lad, we're needed."
"Where?" Ahkilleon asked.
Turok lit a match and smoked his pipe "Hutt Space, the Hutt's pleaded to the imperial senate for salvation against the barbarian horde at their gates. The Imperial Forces are led by golden boy Admiral straight out of the ranks."
"Anyone we know?"
HUTT SPACE
The Battle of Sleheyron
Sleheyron, a volcanic world where the few remaining wilderness were uninhabitable, made of jagged spires of basalt slag. Most of the planet was covered of urban areas, including numerous industrial areas, spaceports and refinery districts. Sleheyron economic muscle was second only to Nar Shaddaa, as was the level of intrigue that occurred there. Most of this economy was based on slave trade and on the refinement of tibanna gas in starship fuel. The Imperial fleet alongside Hutt Mercenary corvette's were engaged in a space battle against a large Militia fleet blockading the planet, the Cyberspider painted proudly on its ships. Admiral Trench stood aboard his flagship and across from him aboard their own flagship was a tall human male.
"The Militia forces are withdrawing to the other side of the planet, our ground forces are breaking through, Admiral let's see just what these Militia barbarians have instal for us." a young woman with brown hair stood behind him, she had thick curly black hair tied in a large bun behind her head, she wore the red and blue pin of a Vice Admiral.
The Admiral in charge of the fleet nodded at her "Admiral Soontir Fel, well done" a robotic voice echoed behind them, as a Hutt protocol droid approached them following a large fat Hutt, the mighty Jabba with his translator droid speaking for him. Admiral Fel turned to look at them, his black hair had started to recede and he wore a fine trimmed goatee around his strong jaw, with light skin. Jabba turned to the dark skinned woman "And my compliments to you Vice Admiral Rae Sloane, truly the Empire has sent it best in our hour of need." Jabba's translator droid said.
"The interests of the Empire and the Hutts align with your excellency, if you'll excuse us we must make sure that our attack continues to be a success." Admiral Fel said turning from Jabba, the two imperial officers walked to the front of the bridge as Jabba took his leave.
Rae sneered till the slug was out of the bridge "Something to say Rae?" Soontir asked her.
"We have no business being here Soontir and you know it, let the barbarians and the gangsters kill each other." Rae said to him in a hushed tone.
"The Emperor has ordered us to bring peace to the Rim, and so we will." Soontir held up a small holocube and looked down at it, there was a holographic picture of him, a beautiful blonde woman, with a radiant smile, he turned off the cube "Once we deal with the Barbarians, then we'll deal with the criminal filth once and for all."
He looked out into the space battle raging, the Cyberspider fleet in full retreat, "Where are you?" he asked.
"Who?" Rae asked him "The man who killed Greelanx, my mentor, where are you Jedi, where are you Ahkilleon Tano?"
Mando'a Translations
But I will stand by you, now and always.*