In space, a group of rebel ships were floating around, trying to decide on their next move against the Empire. One of the rebels was Ahsoka Tano, a former Jedi Padawan. She looked to be in her late thirties, wearing a gray tunic protected by small armor plates and two rectangular lightsaber handles at her belt, she stood next to a man named Sato, a human probably in his late forties who commanded the rebel squadron.
They were accompanied by a small group of rebels known as the Ghost crew.
One of them was a green Twi'lek woman, probably in her early twenties. She wore an orange-and-gray flight suit with goggles raised on her forehead: Hera Syndulla.
The second girl in the group was a Mandalorian human teenager of around 16, wearing colorful traditional Mandalorian armor, her hair dyed dark blue and lime green: Sabine Wren.
Next up was a male Lasat named Zeb Orrelios, wearing a green and yellow jumpsuit and carrying on his back a unique weapon known as a Bo-rifle.
Next came a little beat-up astromech with an orange head named Chopper.
Then a human male in his early thirties, he wore a yellow and green top with gray pants, a shoulder plate on his right shoulder, he had brown hair in a ponytail, a matching goatee on his chin and a lightsaber on his belt. He was Kanan Jarrus, one of the few Jedi to have survived the purge.
And finally, there was a 15-year-old human teenager in an orange jumpsuit with a piece of armor on his right shin, long navy-blue hair and a lightsaber/blaster on his belt. The boy's name was Ezra Bridger.
"Sir, the bat's coming your way." Says a member of the rebellion from a communicator.
"Perfect. I think he'll be happy to meet the Ghost crew." Says the Commander.
"Who's that bat?" Ezra asked.
"I've no idea. I've never heard of him." Replied Hera.
"He's a special case in the rebellion." Ahsoka explained vaguely.
At that moment, the door to the main hangar opened as a man of Sabine's height entered dressed in a black cloak and sturdy armor.
The helmet appeared to be a masculine, all-chrome version of Sabine's own. The torso consisted entirely of gray plates with a black metal bat emblem on the pectoral area. His entire body was similarly protected.
He had black Mandalorian gauntlets on the handles with three small blades at the back, running diagonally upwards and ending in a square.
His boots were black and reinforced. At his waist was a leather belt so dark brown as to appear black, on which were several storage compartments, including a holster for a blaster, and a silver, black and gold lightsaber pommel hidden by his cloak.
The Ghost crew were taken by surprise by the newcomer's dark appearance. Except for Sabine, who seemed to know him.
"Welcome, sir." Said the commander respectfully.
"Thank you, Commander Sato." Said the man in a voice slightly distorted by a voice modulator in his helmet.
He turned his gaze to the Ghost crew.
"Which one of you is Ezra Bridger?" he asked.
Ezra then nervously stepped forward.
"Uh, it's me, sir." Said the boy, laughing nervously.
After a few seconds of silence, he held out his hand to the young teenager, shaking it hesitantly.
"I heard your message, it was really inspiring." He said in a friendly tone, even if the distortion in his voice made it hard to hear, before giving a slight, awkward laugh. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm..."
"...The Dark Mandalorian." Said Sabine for him.
"Who?" Kannan asked.
"I heard about you before I joined the Ghost. You've gone after both the Empire and the criminal cartel." Sabine explained. "You've got a big bounty on your head."
. "That's why he was a special case. He never worked as part of a team until now." Ahsoka retorted. "He's a loner, but he's also a very efficient person despite his age."
"And why does he hide his face behind his helmet?" Zeb asked suspiciously.
"I have my reasons." The Dark Mandalorian calmly retorted.
"Can you show Ezra and Sabine around your room while we talk about upcoming missions?" Ahsoka offered.
"Why not." The Dark Mandalorian replied with a shrug.
While the adults talked, Andros guided Ezra and Sabine to the room mentioned earlier.
"Is he that feared, Sabine?" Ezra asked Sabine quietly.
"I heard he put an end to Hutt mining. And freed the slaves who worked there." Sabine replied.
"It wasn't very complicated." The Dark Mandalorian added, letting the two friends know he was listening. "The Hutts are criminals, but they're not crazy. And after seeing me in action, they've realized I'm not to be trifled with."
"What did you do?" Ezra asked.
"I looted the depot where their best-guarded credit was stored." The Dark Mandalorian replied simply. "Even if they inspire fear. Without finance, they're nothing."
The three teenagers stopped in front of a door as the Dark Mandalorian unlocked it, revealing a white room with many screens, as well as numerous cupboards containing weapons of all kinds and small cylindrical objects that seemed familiar to Sabine.
In one of the cupboards appeared to be a number of gadgets, some classic for a Mandalorian, others stranger to the teenager's eyes, such as razor-sharp bat emblems and others more high-tech.
"Did you make all this equipment?" Ezra asked.
"Yes. I'm a maverick in my guns. Especially firearms. They may be archaic compared to the Blaster, but I find them more practical." The Dark Mandalorian explained, showing Ezra and Sabine a semi-automatic pistol.
She was beginning to get the impression that she'd already seen this kind of weapon among her classmates' projects at the imperial academy where she studied. But she couldn't remember who the project was.
"How can you do all this by yourself?" Sabine asked. "For the materials alone, it should cost you a fortune.""
"I have but means." Replied the Dark Mandalorian vaguely before his comlink began to beep. "What is it?"
"The three of you have to come, you're going on a mission to Lothal." Said Ahsoka's voice over the comlink.
"We'll be there. We'll be there." Said the Dark Mandalorian as the three teenagers ran towards the main hangar.
After the teens met Ahsoka, he and the Ghost crew were aboard a stolen Imperial transport.
"So we don't take the Ghost and let Chopper drive?" Sabine asked.
"After our investigation on Mustafar, there's a good chance the Empire will hunt him down again."
"Then why is the kid coming with us." Said Zeb, referring to the Dark Mandalorian.
"Because Ahsoka ordered us to bring him with us, and since she outranks us, we have to." Hera replied.
Back in the hangar, Ahsoka looked out the window and watched the transport in which the Dark Mandalorian was in hyperspace.
"You're playing a dangerous game... I hope you know what you're doing."
As the team arrived on Lothal, Ezra looked up to see numerous Star Destroyers surrounding his home.
"I've never seen so many Star Destroyers here, it's worse." He said.
"All right, Zeb, Chopper, stay at the shuttle in case of an escape." Says Hera.
"The Minister is to be escorted to a shuttle in Wing 23." Kanan explained.
"I'll be waiting for you there." Said the Dark Mandalorian as he drew a grappling hook from his belt, which quickly dragged him to wing 23, where he stunned the Stormtroopers guarding the high ground.
A little later he was joined by Ezra, Hera and Sabine as Kanan, disguised as a Stormtrooper, entered through the door.
"There she is. But she's got company." Ezra said as he saw the vehicle carrying the minister.
"Who's with her?" Asks Hera, who is observing the ship they'll be stealing.
"Fantastic." Says Ezra, looking at who's accompanying the Minister. "Agent Kallus." He said as the vehicle escorting the Minister stopped and she and Kallus got out.
"Thank you, Agent Kallus. But I didn't need an escort." Says Tua.
"Lord Vader asked me to make sure you arrived safely." Said Kallus.
"I see." Said Tua.
"One can never be too careful these days." Said Kallus, stepping forward with Kanan without noticing before Sabine dismounted to stage a diversion.
She began firing at the Stormtroopers and Kallus to bait them.
"Minister, take cover." Kallus said, pulling out his blaster to fire at Sabine while the Minister hid behind several crates.
As Stormtroopers approach Sabine, Kanan locks my door and pulls on the opening system to prevent it from being opened.
"Surprise." Kanan says before firing at Kallus.
"The rebels." Said Kallus as he fired at Kanan, who dodged the shots to hide where the minister was hidden and distract Kallus by shooting at him before being joined by the Dark Mandalorian, Hera and Ezra.
"Shoot the droid beside him." The Dark Mandalorian said to the Jedi.
"Are you sure?" Kanan asked.
"Go ahead." Said the Dark Mandalorian before Kanan does as he says and destroys the droid in one shot.
"Go to the shuttle, we'll follow you." Said Ezra.
"All right!" Says Tua running towards the shuttle as Sabine uses the vehicle that carried Tua to gain height before jumping onto the roof to let it crash towards the Stormtroopers.
Minister Tua runs off, followed by Kanan, Ezra, Hera and the Dark Mandalorian. The latter tried to reach the Minister to protect her, but he wasn't fast enough and the shuttle exploded, taking everyone by surprise and killing the Minister.
"This is your doing." Says Kallus, firing at the crew as they flee.
"Zeb, we need a cab now." Says Sabine still on top of the building.
"Roger, we're on our way." Says Zeb.
Once the transport shuttle they're using arrives, they quickly board inside before the ship takes off getting shot at, damaging the reactor forcing it to crash.
"Come on. Everybody up, let's move!" Said Sabine as, apart from her and the Dark Mandalorian, the entire crew was stunned by the crash.
They quickly exited the shuttle and ran to their only hiding place nearby.
Later in Ezra's old house, the Ghost team are hidden in the basement and switch on the holonet there to find out what the Empire is doing against them.
"A beloved citizen of Lothal. Minister Tua's life has been cut short by Rebel criminals." Said the announcer before an old image of the Ghost crew was shown. "If you see them, call the Imperial authorities. Troopers have been mobilized so..." He said before Hera turned off the device.
"They've done this to turn Lothal against us. There's nothing more we can do here, we have to leave for good." Said Hera understanding the Empire's plan.
"We can't run away. People need to know the truth." Says Ezra.
"I don't think the Empire is giving us a choice." Says Sabine before they hear Chopper watching the door being welded shut.
"We're in trouble." Said Ezra.
The group left discreetly through a hidden passage in the basement to get to the roof before the Stormtroopers blew up the inside of the house.
"If they know about this hideout, they know about the others." Ezra says.
"We can't hide anymore. We need a ship. We can try one of the Imperial airfields." Said Hera.
"They're sealed off and we'll never leave the capital." Says Sabine as Chopper shows a map with the various Imperial airfields in the city.
"The Empire is looking for us everywhere." Says Zeb.
"Not all of them." Says Kanan, pointing to one that isn't closed.
"The imperial complex? Are you crazy?" Hera asked in surprise.
"I don't think it's crazy. They'll look anywhere but there." The Dark Mandalorian retorted, knowing that this plan was unlikely to work.
"He's right, this deployment has spread the troops all over town. It sounds crazy, but the least guarded area will be here, near the factories. There are landing platforms. It's our best chance." Says Sabine.
"I've already got the suit." Says Kanan.
They managed to infiltrate the building easily enough, with Kanan and Ezra disguised as cadets and all the others hidden in crates they were carrying. Once they'd reached a room where crates and helmets were stored, Sabine, Hera and the Dark Mandalorian emerged from the first crate and Zeb stormed out of the other where he'd been hiding with Chopper.
"Can you be quiet?" Hera asked.
"I've got to breathe. Have you smelled me yet?" Zeb asked as he pulled Chopper out of the crate.
"It doesn't matter if you're loud. No one's around, it was a good plan." Said Sabine after checking.
"Obviously, we've worked it out. Now let's go!" said Kanan after removing the Stormtrooper uniform they were wearing.
They manage to quickly make their way to a landing air.
"A shuttle. I was right." Kanan says, pointing to the shuttle he's just seen.
"Well done." Said Hera before Sabine saw something that caught her eye.
"Hera, this way." Said Sabine drawing the Twi'lek's attention.
"Shield generators." Said Hera.
"Military grade." Added Sabine before she and Hera each took one.
"Take as many as you can. It might make our day. The fleet could use them." Said Hera before the Dark Mandalorian threw 6 device on 6 shield generator which automatically guided them into the shuttle, surprising the crew. "At least it's done." She said, continuing to advance hers.
The rest of the team arrive toward the shuttle before Kanan and Ezra stop.
"Do you feel that?" Ezra asked his master.
"The cold." Said Kanan, turning to see Darth Vader at the main entrance to the landing strip lighting up his lightsaber.
The Dark Mandalorian drew the lightsaber from his belt and lit it, revealing an amethyst tear that surprised Kanan.
"Go, I'll cover you!"
"Watch out!" Hera shouted. Vader then lowered his blade as the Dark Mandalorian parried the Sith lord's attack.
They were in a saber lock until the Dark Mandalorian pushed Vader back as he slid to his knees. The Sith looked up and saw the Darth Mandalorian leap into the air in an attempt to cut him down, but Vader blocked the boy's attack, causing the Darth Mandalorian to bounce off the blade.
He landed behind Vader as the latter turned to face the boy, and the two exchanged blows as they entered another saber lock.
"Impressive." Said Vader as the Sith and the young armored man continued to exchange blows until they entered another saber lock.
"Very impressive." Vader complimented as he and the Darth Mandalorian continued to fight.
The latter didn't care for the compliment as Vader, continued to exchange blows until Vader managed to destabilize the Mandalorian.
He managed to push the Dark Mandalorian onto one knee for a moment until the warrior dodged a blow from Vader, forcing him to stab the ground with his own lightsaber, then at the last second, the Dark Mandalorian used his lightsaber to strike Vader using his speed. He managed to cut the right side of Vader's mask as the Sith cried out in pain.
The Dark Mandalorian was standing over the Sith Lord when he saw the part of his mask open and saw his yellow Sith eye staring back at him. The Dark Mandalorian then positioned his saber as if he wanted to kill Vader.
"Do it." Said Vader.
"Hey!" Said Ezra's voice as the Dark Mandalorian turned to his new friend, calling him toward the shuttle on which he was about to take off. "Come on, hurry up!"
The Dark Mandalorian then turned to the Sith lord as he sheathed his saber.
"It's not your time." The Dark Mandalorian said, using the thrusters on his boots to leap onto the shuttle. Suddenly, the Darth Mandalorian felt a sharp pain on his right shoulder as he cried out in pain, and looked back to see that Vader had thrown his lightsaber at him while the shuttle was out of the Sith lord's reach.
Back in the shuttle, the Dark Mandalorian held his shoulder in pain as Sabine sat down next to him.
"Are you all right?" She asked.
"I'm fine, it's just the sudden heat on my shoulder pad that surprised me." Said the Dark Mandalorian in pain.
Sabine looked around the shuttle and found an emergency kit and wrapped a bandage around the Dark Mandalorian's wound, at least what she could reach at the unprotected parts of his armor.
"That should stop the bleeding for now." Sabine said with a smile.
"Do you want to kiss it to make it feel better?" The Dark Mandalorian joked.
"Don't dream too much." Sabine said with a smile, remembering a similar interaction at the Imperial Academy. "Could it be him?"
"What was that?" Said Ezra. "Another inquisitor?"
"It was much worse." Kanan replied.
"You have no idea." The Dark Mandalorian said, removing his mask. "A Sith lord. The opposites of the Jedi."
"How can we fight it?" Ezra asked.
"We're lucky to have survived." The Dark Mandalorian commented.
"And while I'm thinking about it. Why do you have that lightsaber?" Kanan asked suspiciously. "It belonged to one of the greatest Jedi on the council."
"It's a long story. Long story short, it landed in my father's vehicle shortly before the Republic changed to the Empire. He kept it preciously and I recovered it." Replied the Dark Mandalorian.
"We'll have to find a way to leave Lothal and I know who to call." Said Hera
"Not him!" Said Kanan and Ezra at the same time.
After Hera had contacted Lando Calrissian and lost only two shield generators during the negotiations thanks to an intervention by the Dark Mandalorian, the small group of rebels returned to the command ship aboard the stolen shuttle while Ahsoka was waiting for them.
She took the Dark Mandalorian into her workshop and the teenager removed his helmet and explained what had happened on Lothal.
"Are you sure it was a Sith Lord?" Ahsoka asked.
"Do you know many force users with a red saber who are more powerful on the dark side than an Inquisitor?" Declared the Dark Mandalorian.
"This could be a problem." Ahsoka declared. "If the Empire is using a Sith, then you should stay out of this fight."
"No way." Said the Dark Mandalorian. "I didn't make such an effort to stop because of a simple Sith."
Ahsoka looked at her protector and sighed in defeat and hugged him.
"Okay, but be careful."
"I promise..." He said, returning her embrace.
Just then, Ahsoka's comlink sounded.
"What is it, Commander Sato?" She asked.
"The shuttle the Ghost crew stole has been spotted by the Empire and a ship has entered our zone!"
"Quoi ?!" Ahsoka exclaimed, looking at the Dark Mandalorian.
"Hey, don't look at me, I was just a passenger who helped screw over a smuggler." The Dark Mandalorian declared.
"Let's get back to Hangar!" Ahsoka said as she and her helmeted protector ran back to the hangar.
Later in the hangar, the rebels were in the hangar tracking the approaching ship.
"We've only detected one ship, no others." declared a soldier.
"Move the Phenoix squadron to intercept!" Sato ordered.
As ordered, a few A-Wings were sent to shoot down the TIE fighter, but it was too fast and shot down numerous fighters as it flew toward the command ship.
"It's heading for us." Says Ezra.
"It's him... the Sith." Said the Dark Mandalorian.
"Everyone to battle stations!" Sato shouted.
Hera and the crew headed for the Ghost while Ahsoka and the Dark Mandalorian stood behind Ezra.
"Okay, if we follow you?" She asked
"The more the merrier." Said Ezra as the three Force Force users and the vigilante climbed onto Ghost.
While the rebels tried to fight the lone fighter Ahsoka and the Dark Mandalorian were in the cockpit with Hera and Kanan, Ahsoka felt something more familiar.
"The Force is with him." Said the former Jedi. "Kanan, let's find out how strong he is."
"How can I help?" Kanan asked.
"Don't forget your training." Said Ahsoka as Kanan placed his hand on Zack's other shoulder, they reached out to feel the Sith's strength.
As she did so, Ahsoka felt fear, anger and hatred, then opened her eyes and screamed before falling to the ground, unconscious.
"Ahsoka!" shouted the Dark Mandalorian as he tried to awaken his friend.
In the end, the Rebels lost to Vader, but narrowly managed to escape, using the Empire's maneuver to block them and trap Vader. The Sith Lord entered the bridge of a Star Destroyer and knelt before a hologram of Darth Sidious.
"Lord Vader, have you fought the rebels of the Lothal system?"
"Yes, Master." Vader replied. "They escaped."
"And yet I sense something in you... closer to your victory."
"I believe Anakin Skywalker's apprentice is alive and in league with these rebels." Vader declared.
"Are you sure?"
"It was her, my master." Vader replied.
"This is an opportunity we cannot pass up. Skywalker's apprentice may lead us to other lost Jedi."
"Like Kenobi?" Vader asked.
"Maybe if he's alive."
"There's something else, Master." Said Vader.
"Speak."
"Skywalker's apprentice has a son." Vader declared.
"Are you sure?"
"I felt it during our battle, my Master." Said Vader.
"It's getting more and more interesting Lord Vader, but for now, send another Inquisitor to hunt them down and destroy them."
"As you wish, my Master." Said Vader as Sidious's hologram disappeared.
Later, Sabine joined the Dark Mandalorian in his quarters on Commander Sato's cruiser.
"What can I do for you, Sabine?" The Dark Mandalorian asked.
"I need to know." She said, standing against a wall. "His weapons, someone at the Mandalore Imperial Academy submitted his weapons as a project. Was it you?"
The Dark Mandalorian sighed and faced the Mandalorian.
"Took you long enough." He said before removing his helmet to reveal a handsome teenager with black hair slicked back and blue eyes.
Seeing his face, Sabine stepped back, seemingly in shock. As if she was facing a vision from the past.
"... It's been a long time, Sabine..." He said with a guilty look.
"... Andros..." She said in shock.
"Yeah. Even though I've changed a bit since the last time we saw each other, it's definitely me." Andros replied, placing his helmet on the table.
Sabine could do nothing but hug Andros, too happy to see him.