Chapter 47
Legacy of Mandalore
RAXUS
Raxulon, Hexagon
Beneath the many floors of the Militia Hexagon, the home of the Militia's martial leadership, in the war room General Freeman sat in a chair alongside holograms of General Kleeve, Tuuk, and other Militia Warlords and Consul Kushi, "The Hutt's have sent their concessions to the Union, General, but I wouldn't be doing my due diligence of the Union if I didn't protest Commander Tano's brazen use lie of authority to make such a demand."
"The honorable Consul is right." Admiral Tuuk said, he fixed his cybernetic eyes like fixing glasses, pressing his fingers together "Are we the Militia Union or is Asimov's pet?"
"Lord Asimov's pet, closed our southern flank the only way the Empire can reopen it is if they start attacking the Hutt's, without their credibility the Empire would be hard pressed to hold off the pirates and thugs that run that sector?" Kleeve asked them.
Tuuk glanced at him, and then over at Lok Durd who had been twiddling his thumbs "Oh, well that's all well and good, but the Empire hasn't been idle, the Mykapo Militia is about to crumble unless we send the new recruits there."
"And our droids?" Fives asked him, tapping his fingers on the table they sat at, "Unless I was mistaken those recruits are for the Vanguard?"
Durd shifted his fat nemodian head, "That may be so, but the Free Company has suffered heavy casualties as well in defending Asimov's gains." Lok said to him.
"And the one million droids you had sent to your outposts on Salecuami and being prepared for Ryloth?" Kleeve asked.
Tuuk grunted "Much must be risked in war, unless we are unsure of the Vanguards War jedi?" he asked.
"Enough, the Free Company will have the reinforcements they requested, the Vanguard will have to do without." Fives said as Lok and Tuuk nodded at him in thanks.
ATOLLON
Chopper Base
Ahkilleon sat atop one of the ridges of Atollon's desert world, "It may have been the nemodians speaking it, but Voe Atell is pulling the strings my friend, I'm sorry." General Kleeve said, he was standing on a holographic monitor in Ahkilleon's hands, "Dammit, the Vanguard is managed by a skeleton crew at this point." Ahkilleon said to the eye eyed Kleeve. Sigma also stood in the hologram showing it was a joint transmission.
"I've spoken to General Gererra about it, we'd lend you our ships if we could but the Empire has been launching raids on Geonosis, we expect an attack and I've been asked by the General to reinforce Geonosis, with its ore and Sleheyrons fuel, the Militia will have a near endless supply of droids but only if we hold those key locations." Kleeve explained.
Ahkilleon tapped his fingers together, "Lord Asimov still hasn't woken up?" He asked Sigma.
The clone shook his head, "No, but he's a tough bastard he won't die in a bacta tank."
"Well when he does wake up, we need to make sure his army is waiting for him." Ahkilleon said looking down at the surface of Atollon, the rebels were preparing to leave for another mission.
Sigma looked at Kleeve, "What we discussed after the Hutts, you think your plan will work?"
"The Militia has fought this war alone for too long, the Empire has plenty of enemies all they need is the right… incentive?" Ahkilleon said, fumbling the word.
"Consul Kushi and General Freeman won't be happy about you making an unsanctioned alliance Commander." Kleeve told him.
Ahkilleon stood up "That's why they don't have to know, right?"
Both men looked at one another "Right." Sigma said, "I'll stay silent for as long as I can." Kleeve said to him, "Militia Invictus." Ahkilleon said before they said the same.
Later, Ahkilleon made his way down to the rebel's landing field and walked toward the Phantom, Hera was speaking with Sabine in the distance arms crossed, tense about their current plan. "Are we really sure about this, Sabine's been pretty adamant about not talking about her past?" Ezra asked Kanan who was standing by the Phantom II with Kanan who stood hands behind his back, Fenn Rau was resting on the loading ramp. Beside the Phantom the Revenant was loading up with the Tigers and Turok who gave a wave to Ahkilleon who waved back.
"Where are they going?" Ezra asked him.
"To pick up more supplies, the Maverick fleet will be making a supply run in a nearby sector." Ahkilleon said as the Revenant took off.
Ezra shrugged, Sabine walked back over with Hera who had her hand on her shoulder "Alright, let's get this over with." Sabine said, holding the dark saber on her hip.
"Good, droid help me get the ship ready." Fenn said to Chopper who barked at him, "He really doesn't like being told what to do." Ezra chirped to Fenn.
Kanan smirked, "At least not by anyone but Hera."
Hera shook her head "Call if you need anything, Sabine."
"If it goes like I think it will, we may need all the help we can get." Sabine said as she headed into the ship, the rest of the jedi followed except for Ahkilleon.
He turned to them, "Can we wait a moment, I need to talk to Hera before we go."
Kanan looked at Hera and then to Sabine, "Yeah, sure." Sabine said nervous about their destination.
Ahkilleon walked a distance away from the ships with Hera, "What is it?"
"Did, Wedge get Fel's body back to Imperial space?" Ahkilleon asked her, Hera folded her arms to her chest "He did, I'm surprised you care so much."
Ahkilleon's shoulders slumped, he held his belt in his hands "Just because he was my enemy doesn't mean I didn't respect Fel. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about, the Militia is curious about the situation on Mandalore, they have operatives in the area."
"Anywhere near we'll be?" Hera asked him.
Ahkilleon shook his head "No one on Krownrest, but me, they have their own mission. But I wanted you to know."
"And this mission, what is it?" Hera asked.
He looked over at the Phantom II, "To see if Mandalore will rebel against the Empire."
"Ahkilleon, you've told them we plan to recruit Sabine's clan, with the Darksaber?" Hera asked, Ahkilleon paused "With the fears of a spy in the high command, I've only told Sigma and Ventus, he'll take the message personally to the Jedi Council on Arcadia. It's mandalorian, but also jedi business."
Hera frowned "I get it, but thank you for letting us know. Do you think it'll affect Sabine's journey?"
"Maybe, but Ezra, Kanan and I will be there for her, and if her people don't accept it that's their loss." Ahkilleon said firmly "My thoughts exactly, speaking of people, where are Corto and Yumi?" Hera asked as they headed back.
"With the Vanguard, Corto insisted he had to stay with the wounded and Yumi insisted to stay with her brother, I can't blame them." Ahkilleon said.
Hera nodded "And… Jay, since the incident with the Star Weird have you two spoken?" she asked, Fives son had left with Rulf's body and others, "No." Ahkilleon replied curtly.
They returned to the Phantom where Fenn Rau was waiting in his seat for them in the back, and when he approached "Thank you for coming with me." Sabine said to him.
"Of course." He said, taking her hand squeezing it reassuringly, Kanan cleared his throat "Just one more thing." Kanan said before Ezra tossed him a bag of clothes.
"Get changed, oh mighty War Jedi." Ezra teased.
Ahkilleon held the bag after catching it, "What?"
"You're armor, it's too recognizable as Militia, this is a rebel mission after all." Ahkilleon opened the bag and looked into it at the clothes "You must be joking."
MANDALORE SYSTEM
Krownrest
The Phantom dropped out of hyperspace, heading to the frozen world Krownrest, the icey world Krownest in the Outer Rim Territories' Mandalore sector, cold and covered in snow. Mountainous terrain and evergreen forests comprised much of Krownest's frigid landscape, and its atmosphere proved breathable to humans. A planet under Mandalorian governance, Krownest was the ancestral home of Clan Wren, Sabine looked out at the planet a frozen world with forests in dark grey swaths over the land, "Welcome home." Sabine said in the pilot seat, Ezra in the copilot seat, "You really think it's gonna be that bad?" Ezra asked her.
"I haven't been back to Krownest since before my time at the Imperial Academy, Ezra. And I didn't exactly leave on good terms." Sabine added.
He shrugged "Well, maybe things have changed, they might be happy to see you."
"You don't know my family." Sabine said sullenly "I do."
"Your mother is the leader of Clan Wren, Sabine. She may be with the Empire now, but I believe her true loyalty lies with Mandalore." Fenn said in the back seat, he sat with Kanan and across from him sat Ezra who was struggling to get on the boots they'd given him.
Ezra had turned in his Militia Durasteel Cortosis lined armor for some more, 'rebe' clothes, given the frigid landscape of Crownrest his leather robes and sleeveless tunic wouldn't be enough, so he was wearing a faded blue traveling shirt, with the sleeves rolled up over his forearm and mechano arm, the boots a colorless gray matched the wrappings he wore. The shirt was a size to small and pressed on Ahkilleon's muscular frame "Could you at least wash it?" He asked as he adjusted his lightsaber harness on his chest.
"Don't stretch it, that's one of my favorite shirts." Ezra said back to him, "Ezra, I've only ever seen you wear that one outfit since I got back, what are you talking about your favorite shirt you're wearing?" Ahkilleon asked.
Sabine rolled her eyes smiling, but then returned to the task at hand. "Even if that were true, she thinks I'm a traitor." she said.
"If you can convince your mother to help the rebels, all of Mandalore might follow you and the Darksaber." Fenn assured her.
Sabine looked over at Ahkilleon who smiled at her, and she smiled back knowing that was more then enough "I should let them know we're coming so they don't shoot us down."
"That's funny, I... Wait, you're not kidding, are you? She's kidding right?" Ezra asked Fenn who just smirked while Sabine spoke in Mandalorian over the communications system, "Well Ezra, Warrior people are not known for their warm welcome."
Everyone got quiet when the comms replied with a mans voice speaking in Mando, "What happened?" Ezra asked as Sabine's face went white as the snow in the clouds "They're jamming us- Incoming." Sabine said when they saw four Mandalorians in white and yellow armor flying toward them, at full speed with rocket packs.
"Sounds like your family just sent out the welcoming committee." Ezra said before he saw them launch a salvo of rockets toward them "Rockets! Rockets!"
"I see them." Sabine took evasive action doing a barrel roll, Ahkilleon strapped in arms crossed "... mandalorians…." Ahkilleon muttered, Fenn and Kanan looked at him and he gave a snarky look back as they flew away from the rockets.
"Didn't you tell them who you were?" Ezra asked her .
Sabine was focusing more on the piloting as she said "That's probably why they're shooting at us."
The Mandalorians landed on the top of the ship before they pointed blasters at Chopper who squealed in droid claws waving, in terror before they opened fire on the ships thrusters system, "Uh-oh. We've lost the main thrusters." Sabine said as they lost altitude flying to the forest,
"Brace for impact!" they crashed into the ground with a furious impact tearing up the ground half burying the ship.
Ahkilleon unbuckled himself and helped Kanan up, they opened the doors to the snowy plains, "Looks like recruiting the Wrens will be more difficult than I thought." Fenn said rubbing his head, while everyone got out
"You weren't easy to recruit either." Kanan said "So we switch to Plan B. Better stay out of sight I have a feeling we're gonna need you later." Kanan said, Fenn nodded and shut the door to the Phantom II, Ahkilleon rolled his neck stretching out any stiffness he had from the ride.
Ahkilleon looked to the sky and saw a squad of Wren Mandalorians flying toward them, one of them in Imperial Super Commando armor with yellow pauldrons instead of red, Ahkilleon thought back to Concordia, where he faced down the small army of Stormtroopers and Supercommandos alone, the last Mandolorian he fought.
"Now, remember, I could be related to these guys." Sabine replied.
"Don't worry. I'll play nice." Ezra said as the Mandolorians landed, they were all armed with Carbines except for the Supercommando, who had his own rifle. Ahkilleon had his hands on his harness inching to his lightsabers, and Ezra drew his the green blade drawing all the eyes and scopes ""Ezra!" Sabine snapped "Jedi?" the Mandalorians opened fire, Ezra deflected it and Kanan drew his lightsaber, Ahkilleon almost drew his when Sabine shouted "Ezra!"
"What? They shot first, Sabine?" Ezra asked her, the Mandalorian in charge held his hand up "Sabine?" he asked walking toward them, he was tall as Ahkilleon and removed his helmet to reveal a young man with a strong jaw, amber eyes like Sabines and short black hair.
"Tristan?" Sabine removed her helmet recognizing him "You changed your hair again." he said seeing her pink, silver and golden highlights.
"You know me." Sabine teased with a soft smile "Do I? Who are the Jedi?" Tristan asked her, gesturing to the three men behind her.
"They're my friends. I'll explain everything, I promise." Sabine said to him, Tristan turned his back on her, and Ahkilleon didn't like his attitude toward Sabine.
"I'll take you to the stronghold, but I can't vouch for how you'll be greeted." Tristan said as they walked into the woods, while Chopper and the hidden Fenn Rau stayed behind in the Phantom II.
THE REVENANT
Hyperspace
Turok skell smoked his pipe as he sat alongside Breacher, the two of them were in the cockpit, listening to a holodevice, standing on it was General Sigma, "We won't be getting the droids after all, and no word on Lord Asimov's condition other than he's stable." Sigma said from the Shatterpoint.
"Do you really think Ahkilleon's plan will work?" he asked the two.
Turok huffed out some smoke "It's a gamble, at no great personal cost to myself but the lad is right. If Warlord's like Tuuk and Durd are stopping us from getting reinforcements, recruitment is the next best option."
"Yes, but in your previous report about these 'recruits' you stated they were not like their majority, the radical and zealous, they were terrorists weren't they?" Sigma asked him.
Breacher fixed his bucket hat, "One mans terrorist is another's freedom fighter, and if zealous that means they'll fight harder."
"Very well, keep me apprised of your progress, and why is Commander Tano not with you?"
"Girl trouble." both said.
KROWNREST
Wren Stronghold Route
Back on Krownrest, the rebels followed Tristan up a narrow snow covered trail, the trees on each side, Kanan, Ezra and Ahkilleon followed Sabine with Mandalorian guards at their back, "How can you wear that armor, Tristan, how could you join them?" Sabine asked her brother, he glanced back at her but kept walking.
"You shouldn't have come back, Sabine."
"Thanks." Sabine grunted as they walked toward a large building, it was made of sleek metal with large thick crystal walls, overlooking a frozen lake, Wren Guards stood outside at steps leading to an elevated platform. It had a long dock leading out onto the frozen lake and looked more like a militarized lakehouse than a Mandalorian stronghold. When they came to the steps the doors opened and a woman walked out, she was tall with black hair streaked with grey and imposing glare dressed in black and gold armor. The Warriors stood at attention when she walked out her armor unlike Sabine's or other female Mandalorians he'd seen had a skirt around the waist but the armor was ornately decorated like Sabine's but not as colorful. "So it's true, then." The woman said glaring at Sabine.
"Mother." Sabine greeted, the Jedi glanced at one another "Put her in a cell. She'll be held for trial." the woman said, the Mandalorians moved to take Sabine, Ahkilleon grabbed his lightsabers but Kanan seized his shoulder and whispered "Steady."
"Mother, we need to talk." Sabine wrestled herself forward and took out her blade, igniting the ancient lightsaber the Mandalorians looked at it and even the Countess gapped at it in awe "The Darksaber?"
"Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger and… Revan Starkiller, this is my mother, the Countess Ursa Wren." Sabine said, making up a name for Ahkilleon, who gave her a cockeyed look.
"Hi." Ezra said, holding his hand up, but the Mandalorians raised their pistols at a jedi waving his hand, "Whoa, hey! No, no, no, just saying hello." Ezra said as the warriors held their guns firmly.
"What did you expect would happen here, Sabine? That you'd be welcomed with open arms? You're wanted by the Empire!" Ursa snapped at Sabine who lowered the darksaber turning it off, she clipped it back to her belt and Ahkilleon loosened his hands from his lightsabers, held onto them just in case.
Sabine stepped forward "I know, but I'm part of the Rebellion now, please hear what I have to say."
Ursa looked her daughter over and the three jedi, "I will tolerate the Jedi presence in our ancestral home if they surrender their weapons." Ursa said before she headed back into the stronghold.
"Well, that went better than I expected." Sabine said "That was better? I hope you're not really expecting us to hand over our lightsabers, are you?" Ezra asked her in disbelief as the Mandalorians walked up to take the lightsabers, Ezra and Kanan unclipped their weapons.
"We need to do whatever it takes to make this work." Kanan said offering his lightsaber up
Sabine looked to Ahkilleon who had his arms crossed, "They'll be safe, Ezra." Sabine said,
"All right." He replied giving his lightsaber to one of the guards, that just left Ahkilleon who glared at the Mandalorians as if daring them to try and take his blades.
"'Revan' please." Sabine asked him, Tristan walked up "Is this cyborg deaf as he is mute?" Tristan asked to make a note of Ahkilleon's mechano arm. Ahkilleon pulled them free quickly and it spooked the guards to point their blasters, Ahkilleon gave Sabine a playful smirk before he twirled them in his hands and gave them up, "He speaks, when he wants to." He grunted to Tristan.
Later, Sabine and the Jedi were in the grand hall of the Stronghold, a wide throne with a golden Mandalorian helmet with raised crown on it, sat at Ursa Wren's side, above the throne was a portrait of Ursa holding the helmet, and dressed not in her armor but a mountain colored dress of varying shapes and patterns, "Your rebel friends are going to bring the Empire down on all of us." Ursa berated "You believe the Darksaber will protect you? It won't. It's only a symbol." She said.
"Yeah, a symbol that united all Mandalorians in the past- Look, if we stand together now-"
"Stand together? Sabine, it's everything I can do to keep the other clans from destroying us because of what you did." Ursa said condescendingly to them.
"I didn't know the Empire would use the weapon I designed against our people. But you don't believe me, do you?" Sabine snapped.
Ursa fixed her jaw "Even if I did, it wouldn't change all the other ruling houses from seeing you as a traitor. Your own brother now serves Gar Saxon to prove our loyalty and regain some small amount of status." She said as Tristan stood at her left, helmet under his arm.
"Gar Saxon is a killer." Sabine argued "He's the Emperor's Hand, the acting ruler and governor of Mandalore."
"And his men wiped out the Protectors." Sabine almost shouted as the voices and tension continued to rise, Ahkilleon looked at the nearby guards, taking note of each of them two at the doors, two on each side and one at a nearby door with another facing down the jedi, covering all exits, and in positions for all of them, they were surrounded. "The Protectors were executed for treason, just as Fenn Rau will be when he is found." Ursa declared, Ahkilleon and Kanan shared a glance, both of them knowing Kanan made the right choice to have Fenn stay behind. "The Empire is at war with barbarians, there is talk in the Senate for conscription of the Mandalorians to join the war with this Militia Union."
"They were loyal to Mandalore and Saxon betrayed them, he poisoned my armor with Beskar Bane!" Sabine shouted at her mother.
"Enough! Fenn Rau's people are dead and mine are not and I intend to keep them that way. All of them." Ursa snapped standing to her feet "And do not start lying now Sabine, Beskar Bane is extinct."
Sabine clenched her fists tight, "Except for me."
There was a long tense pause, Ursa stepped down from her throne and approached her daughter "Walk with me." Sabine looked to her friends before she followed her mother out of the audience chamber.
When the women were out, Ezra couldn't bare the silence he looked to Tristan "So you're Sabine's brother? I didn't even know she had a brother. I mean, it's not that she didn't want to talk about you, but she just, I don't know, she never really talked about you before-" "Ezra." Kanan cut him off.
"Yeah?" Ezra asked.
"Less is more." Kanan whispered.
Ezra looked at him sheepishly "Aren't we here to make friends?" Ezra asked his Master.
"Just let me handle the negotiating." Kanan said, Ahkilleon folded his arms to his chest, Ahkilleon gave a snicker with a smirk.
Tristan glared at him "Something interesting cyborg?"
"Oh just, admiring your pretty armor, not a scratch on it?" Ahkilleon said smiling at him, Tristan walked down the steps "I a true warrior polishes his armory, keeps it ready."
Ahkilleon nodded at it like it was sagely wisdom, tucking his lip "I thought warriors used their armor, and didn't just stand in it?" he asked.
"Ah-Revan, we're guests." Kanan grumbled at him, Tristan got closer "And I'm complimenting our gracious hosts on their advice."
Tristan turned to leave annoyed, muttering "Besom utreekov mir'sheb jetii."
"Nar'sheb hut'uun." Ahkilleon replied in Mando'a, Clan Wren turned their heads hearing that. Tristan turned around hand on his blaster, Ahkilleon uncrossed his arms and Ezra slapped his forehead as the two started to face off.
Meanwhile, out on a ledge overlooking the frozen lake and woods, Sabine spoke with her mother "How could you align with the Empire? After everything they've done to our people, after what they made me do."
"Do you think I didn't try to stop it?" Ursa asked "There was nothing I could do, Sabine. Mandalore was on its knees before the Emperor, the civil war has made us weak, force wielders like Jedi failed to stop the Empire." Ursa said to her "After he put Saxon in power, we had a choice. Side with him or Clan Wren would be destroyed, your father…" Ursa trailed off.
"Please, don't tell me." Sabine said looking away "He's alive." Ursa said making Sabine's eyes go wide.
"On Mandalore. A captive in everything but name, but if Clan Wren acts against the Empire... They'll kill him." Ursa confessed to her daugher.
"Why didn't you try and find me?" Sabine asked.
"Find you? Sabine, when you ran away, it saved you. Don't you understand? Coming back here has put you in danger, as much danger as holding that blade." Ursa gestured to the Darksaber on Sabine's waist.
"Where did you get it?" She asked, Sabine took it off her belt "From Maul." Sabine said.
"You won it from him in combat?" Ursa asked her, stunned "Not exactly, I-" "Then you have no claim to it." Ursa said quickly.
"Well, I'm holding it, that's a pretty good claim." Sabine said spirefully "Anyone can hold the Darksaber, the trick is keeping it, along with your head, do you even know how to wield that blade?"
Sabine cocked her head retorting "You'd be surprised."
"Always so immature, so selfish." Ursa scoffed, Sabine tightened her resolve snapping back "Yeah, and what about you? Always putting power and politics before your own family."
"Everything I do is to protect my family, Sabine!" Ursa barked.
Sabine rolled her eyes at her mother "Please! You do it for control."
"And your father called me stubborn, now I see it in you." Ursa scolded.
"What do you see?" Sabine asked, ready for another insult, "A warrior. Not the one I'd hoped, but still…" Ursa said, the comment wasn't exactly an insult or a compliment but it was something "Well, I am your daughter, how could I be anything less?" Sabine said, sighing seeing they were actually getting along.
"Look, the rebels are planning something, and we need your help. It'd be the first real blow to the Empire and we can show the galaxy that they can be defeated."
Ursa put her hands on the balcony edge, "We've noticed, this Militia in the rim have lasted longer than anyone expected them to. Mandalore hasn't forgotten the dangers of the droid armies, and the rumors of these War Jedi of theirs are they relation to your rebels?" Ursa asked.
Sabine paused, "Somewhat, the Militia and the Rebellion have an alliance of sorts, they give us supplies, we give them intel."
"Then please tell me these rebels are more than just a blind Jedi and two children." Ursa asked her daughter, Sabine gladly replied "Our numbers are growing every day. Mother, this could be the key to freeing Mandalore from Imperial control. I am not a traitor, I want to save Mandalore too, but it needs a strong leader." Sabine took her mothers hand and offered her the Darksaber.
"You have to trust me... just like I'm trusting you." Sabine laid the darksaber in her mothers hands, and even though it wasn't activated the weight of the blade was felt in Ursa's hands.
The doors to the balcony opened and a Wren warrior walked in "Countess, there's an issue in the audience chamber with the Jedi."
"Oh no." Sabine said.
Back in the audience chamber, Tristan caught Ahkilleon's right hook and threw him over his shoulder and slammed him down into the middle of the floor, Ezra and Kanan were both watching, Ezra in shock, Kanan in irritation. Ahkilleon hit the hard stone floor before he felt Tristan press his knee into his back and bend Ahkilleon's arm at an awkward angle "Not so tough without your lightsaber are you, Jedi?"
Ahkilleon snickered "Bold of you to assume I need a lightsaber to fight you." Ahkilleon flung his legs up, bending his spine back to wrap his boots around Tristan and pull him off before he got to his feet. Tristan recovered and blocked Ahkilleon's left jab, he countered with an uppercut but Ahkilleon ate the blow and smashed his forehead into Tristan's face almost breaking his nose. The Wren warriors cheered on the young Tristan who spat "You fight like drunken brawler."
"You hit like ik'aad." Ahkilleon said back, Tristan ran at him and leapt up with a kick, Ahkilleon dodged grabbing his leg and returning the slam into the ground before he slammed his metal fist into the stone, Tristan having dodged, he shot back up and smashed Ahkilleon in the fast with another punch, Ahkilleo gave him his own and they were about to go again when they heard a blaster shot in the air from Ursa.
Sabine was staring daggers into Ahkilleon, "Really!" She snapped.
"Entertaining our guests Tristan?" Ursa asked her son as she walked toward her son, who had a bruise on her chest, "This Jedi has no respect." Tristan snapped.
"Not for you." Ahkilleon said, spitting on the ground, Sabine stormed past her mother and grabbed Ahkilleon by the arm. "Let me handle this, I'll set him straight."
Another warrior approached their mother, "Countess, you're being summoned by Sundari." The warrior said, "See that you do Sabine, I will entertain your rebel friends after I speak to Sundari." she said.
"Who's Sundari?" Ezra asked "Mandalore's Capital." Kanan told him.
Sabine dragged Ahkilleon to a corner of the larger room as Ursa left, with the darksaber, "Are you trying to ruin this, Ahkilleon?" She whispered to him.
"Me, you're letting your family talk to you that way, your brother, your mother, should be on their knees begging for your forgiveness not the other way around." Ahkilleon gritted his teeth at her eyes darkening.
Sabine raised her hands "I'm trying to be diplomatic, you starting a fight with them is what my people want."
"I don't like the way they're treating you Sabine, you don't need to take this." he argued back, "What you think I can't handle it?" Sabine asked.
"No- no that's not what I'm saying, but if they could see you as we- as I see you, not as a traitor, or a rebel, but the leader they need…. as Mandalore." Ahkilleon said, Sabine's eyes got wide "You- you mean Mandalorian." she corrected him, hoping he meant the name of her people, not the ancient title of ruler.
Ahkilleon shook his head, "No, you are the leader they need, you stood up the Empire first, you inspired Fenn Rau too, you can do it with your clan and the darksaber… where is the Darksaber?"
"I gave it to my mother." Sabine replied.
Ahkilleon shook his head and whispered "What is with this rule of giving up weapons, you guys already have the best armor?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Well that's one way to start negotiations." Kanan said to them, "Do you just pick fights wherever you go, and hope it works out?" Ezra asked him.
Ahkilleon's glared at him, "I may not be Mandalorian, but I know Outer Rim politics, her people are warriors and warriors value strength overall."
"That may be, but there are more ways to show strength than a brawl. I've asked to speak with Countess Wren as soon as she's done with Sundari." Kanan said to him, Ahkilleon frowned "I don't like this, I sense danger."
"We're surrounded by my family, even I sense danger." Sabine suggested hand on her hip, when her mother walked back in, she took her place on the throne, "Master Jedi, I will hear your request." she said, Kanan turned back to her then the rebels "Let me do the talking." Kanan said walking back up to Ursa. "I already told them we plan to launch a major strike against the Empire, but not where, also that the Militia and the Rebels have an agreement, but nothing else."
Kanan gave her a thankful nod before he headed over, Ahkilleon followed next to Ezra and Sabine, "Countess Wren, I'm not one to mince words so I'll get to the point. We have a common enemy in the Empire, they wiped out the Jedi, destroyed the Republic, a Republic though not always friends with Mandalore, wanted what was best for all."
"I wasn't part of the Jedi at Mandalore, I was elsewhere with my Master fighting a different battle. But I had heard the alliance between the Jedi, Mandalorian Resistance and the Crusaders had fixed our Order's schism and for the first time I had hope the war was going to be over soon, opnly for it to end with the Empire." Kanan said to her, "In the years since I've seen a lot, but no more than the courage of your daughter to take up the Darksaber, to fight for what she believes in, a free Mandalore." Kanan said to her, Ursa crossed her legs and leaned on her throne, one hand over the Darksaber.
"You believe you know my daughter better than me?" Ursa asked him.
Kanan replied "You don't know what it's taken for her just to be here, you should listen to her."
"She's a child." Ursa countered, Kanan calmly said "I believe you're underestimating the woman she's become."
"Why would Clan Wren ever side with the Empire anyway, Sabine said that your family were true Mandalorians, loyal only to-" Ezra cut in but Ursa silenced him "You have no idea what you're talking about, boy."
Ahkilleon scowled at Ursa, and she met his glare while Ezra responded "I know that she was telling the truth about the Protectors before, we fought Gar Saxon on Concord Dawn." Ezra said gesturing to Sabine, Ahkilleon or 'Revan'. "He was proud that he wiped them all out."
Ursa's amber eyes widened "Sabine, she fought Governor Saxon?"
"Yeah, she did, and she held her own even after he poisoned her with Beskar Bane." Ezra added, Tristan glanced at his mother, "Tristan serves Gar Saxon, and he has never seen Beskar Bane used by the Supercommandos, if that were true my daughter would be dead." Ursa said.
Ezra looked at Sabine and remembered their adventure to Concordia, "Well… we went to other Mandalorians, not like you more conservative, they healed her with, Sabine what was it, the Living Waters?" Ezra asked.
The Warriors in the room looked at one another, "Sabine bathed in the living waters of Mandalore, you'd have to go to Mandalore deep underground or-" Just then another Wren Warrior hurried up to Ursa's chair and whispered something in her ear, "I understand."
"I'm afraid that what I have to do is unfortunate, that makes her treason even worse." Ursa said as the back doors of the audience chamber opened and the last person they wanted to see entered, Gar Saxon with a squad of his Supercommandos.
The Jedi all reached for their lightsabers but forgot they were gone, "Mother, what have you done?" Sabine snapped as the Mandalorian warriors all drew their pistols aiming them at the rebels.
"You can't do this!" Sabine yelled at her mother "Yes, she can, because she is loyal, just not to you." Gar said walking in with a smug grin on his face, "I believe you have something else for me." Gar asked and Ursa tossed Gar the darksaber hilt, he caught it with an evil smile.
Sabine gasped "No!"
"Sabine, this is for the best." Tristan said to his sister blocking her from charging Gar.
Ursa's face was stone "I've upheld my end of the bargain, Saxon, you have the Darksaber, take the Jedi and let my daughter go."
Gar turned the black blade on, admiring it's anti light glow when he looked over at Sabine "Your mother betrayed everything you believe in to save you. It's admirable... except she consorted with known traitors to do it." he said as he saw Ahkilleon standing behind her.
"What are you talking about?" Ursa asked.
"Why, Countess, you are harboring not just rebels here, but enemies of the Empire." Gar pointed the darksaber across the floor at the Jedi, specifically Ahkilleon "He may not be in the armor, but that is no mere Jedi, that is Ahkilleon Tano, the Demon of the Barbarian Horde, who violated our borders to stir unrest on Concordia, he kileld over a hundred Imperial soldiers and… some of my best."Gar growled the last part out, Kanan and Ezra could sense more malice in the man, there was something else to his 'best'.
Ursa looked at Ahkilleon who didn't even flinch at her gaze, he slowly curled his hands into fists ready for whatever came next. "Clan Wren is clearly a threat to the Empire and must be made an example of."
Tristan stood forward, hands up "Governor, wait, it doesn't have to be this way, we are all Mandalorians." Tristan said, trying to stop anything from starting.
"I've been fair to you, Tristan, and you've served me well, I'll give you a choice, stand with me, or die with your family." Gar snapped.
Tristan looked at his mother then turned to Sabine, drawing his pistol before he spun around pointing it at Gar "I choose family."
"Then Clan Wren ends here-" Gar growled drawing his pistol and wielding the Darksaber when a blaster shot rang out from the front entrance, "Is this a private fight or can anyone join?" the rebels, the Wren, and the Imperial Supercommandos looked to see not only Turok Skell holding a smoking blaster pistol to calm everyone down, but also another group of familiar Mandalorians, the golden helmeted Armor of the Children along with her blue heavy armored Ragnar, and a dozen other mismatched armored Mandalorians, and bringing up the rear was Fenn Rau who tossed the Jedi their lightsabers.
"Took you long enough." Ahkilleon said, walking over to the Children.
"What is the meaning of this?" Gar demanded, "I knew you would try something like this Saxon, so when I received a message that the Children of the Watch were requesting permission to land, I assumed something larger was at play." Ursa said as she stepped down from her throne.
The Armorer walked forward to meet with Ursa, "Why are you here, Armorer?" She asked.
"We do not come on behalf of your daughter, we come on behalf of him." the Armorer turned toward Ahkilleon, who gave a respectful nod. "Your gift was most appreciated, Jedi, and as for your terms we accept."
"Terms, gift?" Ezra asked, "What is going on?" Sabine asked too, "I'm sorry for not telling you, but I wasn't about to let Sabine walk in here without reinforcements." Ahkilleon said, "After Sleheyeron I took the Beskar shield that Soontir Fel wielded and Turok's beskar axe and offered them as gifts to the Children of the Watch, in exchange for an alliance, in other words Gar you're outnumbered." The Children of the Watch drew their blasters aimed at the Supercommando's.
Now with the combined numbers of th Rebels, Clan Wren and the Children Gar was outnumbered three to one, Gar's men started to back up "Hold your ground, I won't be denied my revenge."
"Revenge?" Ezra asked Gar to hold up the darksaber "My warriors on Concordia, the ones you butchered, the squad leader he…" Gar gritted his teeth "He was my son- my only SON!"
Ahkilleon thought back to the last Mandalorian he'd fought on Concordia, he had been vicious, he'd fought to the end and been no older than Ezra or Ahkilleon, now when he saw his face in his mind, Ahkilleon could see the resemblance between Gar and him. "A blood feud then, let it be settled in a duel." The Armorer said, "This is the way." Ragnar said and the other Children said the same "This is the Way." Ursa's men looked to her and she nodded at them, they sheathed their weapons and then the Children did, followed by Gar's own men, Tristan had said it best they were all Mandalorians.
"Gladly." Ahkilleon said, taking out his lightsabers, "We didn't come here to fight." Kanan protested.
"Then don't I will." Sabine said, stepping forward "You or the Tano boy, I will have my revenge." Gar said not caring who it was.
Ahkilleon looked to the Armorer, "You have the right to choose a second." she said, "And there is no one stronger than Sabine Wren." Ahkilleon said offering her his blue lightsaber, Sabine too it and the Mandalorians all backed up to give Sabine and Gar the floor.
"And youre okay with this?" Kanan asked Ursa, "By Mandalorian custom and law, no one can interfere." Ursa told him as the two put their helmets on.
"Are your customs more important than the life of your daughter?" Kanan asked her, and the duel began. Gar and Sabine attacked one another with their lightsabers, the blue blade clashing off the black one, followed by a counter and a parry. Rau used his jetpack to back up and Sabine launched her grappling cable to pull him back down.
Sabine took a note from Ahkilleon's fighting style and headbutted Rau, with her helmet on
The two warriors engaged in a dance of combat, blocks, parries and strikes, before both leapt off the ground with their jetpacks above the chamber, "You will be taken back to Mandalore to finish what you started, the last living member of the Wren Clan."
"I'll die before I ever serve the Empire again." Sabine said as they wrestled their blades against one another before spiraling out of control smashing into the crystal wall and out into the snow and ice outside. "Sabine!" Ezra called out.
Everyone rushed out into the snow to see Sabine and Gar disposing of their jetpacks and attacking again, Gar had his years of experience trained in swordplay, but Kanan's lessons were proving useful even with a different blade for Sabine, countered and parried over and over. Sabine blocked another blow and Gar snapped "I'm impressed you have some skill."
"But not enough to save you." Gar said as he broke the block "That's funny, I was about to say the same thing to you." Sabine said tossing off her helmet, they fought all the way out onto the ice landing on the thinner layers starting to crack. Gar swung overhead and Sabine blocked, then side stepped knocking Gar off his feet and into the ice, making it crack more.
Gar held up his forearm and sent a wave of fire from his flamethrower, Sabine used her own repulsor vambrace to blast the fire back into Gar, he yelped giving Sabine the opening to slash him across the arm, the shock of the blow made Gar drop the darksaber and Sabine caught it spinning both blades in her hand like Ahkilleon and holding them at Gar's neck. "Yield!" she snapped.
"I'll never yield to you, girl, you'll have to kill me. My bloodline has ended. There is nothing left for me but an honorable death." Gar spat on his knees over the ice.
"That might be the Mandalorian way... but it's not my way." Sabine said panting hard from the fight, she turned the lightsabers off "Not anymore." she said walking away.
Sabine smiled back at the rebels, the Wren and Children of the Watch, she met her mothers gaze, Ursa had a strong look of pride that evaporated into shock, a blaster shot rang out and Sabine looked back to see Gar with his blaster drawn, a hole smoking right between his eyes before he fell back dead, shot through the head, anywhere else on beskar wouldn't have pierced the armor*. "Mother." Sabine gasped.
"No one threatens our family." Ursa said walking out in front of her clan, Fenn Rau removed his helmet to speak.
And he said "Gar Saxon was guilty of treason against the throne, collaboration with our enemy, and the execution of my fellow Protectors, but when the rest of Mandalore finds out about his death, there will be chaos."
"Perhaps Mandalore needs chaos if it's to become strong once again, and so that we may find a leader worthy of our people." Ursa said back to him.
Just as the fight was over, the Phantom II flew over and landed with Chopper waving at everyone "Sure, now you show up when all the fighting is over." Ezra caled out as Chopper said something in binary.
Ahkilleon looked over at Sabine as she gave him back his lightsaber, "You have a leader." Ahkilleon said aloud.
Now all eyes were on him, "Sabine Wren is the leader you need, she not only stands against the Empire, she returns to face her clan at the cost of her own life. She has won the Darksaber in combat, she fought with honor and gave mercy even when it wasn't deserved. She's the best of you, she is your Mandalore." Ahkilleon held his arm aloft at Sabine.
Sabine gaped at him from shock of the praise and how her people were looking at her, not being able to find fault in the argument, some of the Mandalorians started to kneel but Sabine held hands up "No." Sabine said to them, "I'm not the leader Mandalore needs, I don't want it." Sabine said.
"Which is why you have to take it Sabine, people who want power, people like Gar should never be given it, but those who don't are the best for it because they don't lose respect for it." Ahkilleon argued.
Sabine looked at him, and she knew he wasn't going to let it go, "The Empire will come for us once they find out what's happened here, the Rebellion can help." Sabine said changing the subject looking to her family.
"The same Rebellion that sent you for my help? No." Ursa said to her daughter and the rebels "Mandalore must rise by itself, we protect our own."
"So do we." Kanan said looking at their own resident Mando, who had a sour look on her face "Sabine?" Ezra asked.
"She's right." Sabine said, Ezra saw the look on her face "Wait, you're not coming with us?" Ezra asked.
Sabine took Ahkilleon's hand in her own and then Ezra's, I'm done running away. "My father's on Mandalore, we'll find a way to get him back. And then... Then maybe we can join the fight against the Empire." Sabine said as she spoke to both of them.
"But right now... I can do more good here." She let go stepped back.
Kanan's eyes hidden behind his visor said "I am so-" "Do not say you're proud of me."
"Me?" Kanan asked "Never."
Kanan smiled at Sabine "But I am going to miss you." Sabine rushed forward and hugged Kanan like the goofy, but caring uncle he was "We all will." Ezra said.
"Thank you, all of you." she said as she punched Ezra playfully on the shoulder and then turned to Ahkilleon, if he wasn't upset about her not accepting the role of leader, he was upset she'd be gone.
She walked up to him and cupped his cheek, they pressed their foreheads together, and that got the Wren Clan's attention, "This isn't goodbye, it's just till we meet again." Sabine said
"I know, I just…. Be careful." he said before he kissed her. Tristan's jaw nearly hit the snow and Ursa's eyes widened seeing her daughter embrace a man, let alone a jedi. Ezra noticed her brother's shock "Yeah, I was the same." he muttered.
They broke the kiss and held their heads together, before Ahkilleon looked over at Turok and the Armorer, she and her warriors had been respectfully silent "Armorer, are your warriors ready to uphold their bargain."
"We are Jedi, the clan has emptied from Concordia and are headed to the coordinates." the Armorer said as she gestured for her Warriors to move out.
Kanan cocked his head "Coordinates, you gave them the location of our base?"
Ahkilleon shook his head letting go of Sabine, "No."
"What do you mean Ahkilleon?" Sabine asked him stepping back, Ahkilleon had his hand outstretched her as if he was about to loose her forever, "I… the Vanguard has suffered heavy losses in recent battles, we need strength, the Armorers tribe has agreed to join the Militia has volunteers in exchange for land on Raxus, and all the beskar we find."
Ursa looked to the Armorer who turned "So that is a no on joining us against the Empire."
"We may be Mandalorian, we have not forgotten how our apostate brethren have ostracized us and isolated us on Concordia, this Jedi has proven himself as a warrior and friend to Mandolorians, and so we will join his army until he shows he is not." the Armorer said to her.
The rebels looked just as confused as Ursa, "I will see you all back on Raxus." Ahkilleon said to the Armorer, "This is the Way." The Armorer said before she and her warriors headed to the Revenant that was not far from them.
The Rebels looked at him, it wasn't the first time Ahkilleon had used the rebels for his own means, "Don't be mad at the lad, the Militia will make this worth your while Rebels."
"I somehow doubt that, Turok." Kanan said to him "Another dreadnought?"
Kanan grumbled headed back to the Phantom, "Two dreadnoughts." he grumbled, Turok smirked and patted Ahkilleon on the arm "See, you are a politician, oh and good news."
"What?" Ahkilleon asked, "Lord Asimov is awake."
Mando'a translations
Besom utreekov mir'sheb jetii - Unwashed foolish smartass jedi.
Nar'sheb - shove it, (but much worse)
Hut'uun - coward, kraven,
Ik'aad - Child/youngling
Because for some reason in that episode, Gar get's shot in the chest, I thought he wore beskar armor, so yeah.