Chapter Text
Imperial City had a lively outdoor bazaar every morning after a sandstorm. It was the New Lothal way of telling the forces that they survived the night and that they will continue to endure.
It was still early—merchants were still sweeping the sand away from doorsteps and stalls sat disassembled against the walls of homes—when Ezra and Sabine had headed into the city. It was oddly domestic, to have stayed on one planet so long to become intimately familiar with the customs of its people.
To Ezra, the new custom seemed to unsettle him. He would follow Sabine when she asked, which was every time, but to see a version of Lothal that was healing from the wartime ravages with which he was so deeply familiar—she understood.
What was Mandalore like now? It had been years since she had been back, seen the domes of the great cities, seen the people who shared customs she had known since childhood. Her visits had been during the Empire’s occupation. She had not returned since.
“So, what do you even need that makes you want to go into town?”
“Rations.”
“So you’re going to help her?” Ezra seemed to light up.
“No, I’m going to go see Ahsoka.”
“Just you? Or…” He trickled off.
“Well, I was hoping it would be us. And the kid, and his dad. Not sure why Ahsoka wouldn’t train him, but you’re definitely not going to cut it.”
“Oh, speaking of which, what do you think of Mudhorn? He strikes me as the quiet, stoic type. You know, like Rex or something.”
Sabine laughed. “Rex? Quiet? There’s no way. Did you forget when those three were cooing over ‘Big Bongo’ with the joopa in the desert? Can you see him doing something like that?”
“I don’t know, maybe.”
“There’s no way. Even if he could do it, he’d never have a reason to. See, that’s what makes him different from Rex. Rex knows how to have fun. Sometimes. I’m pretty sure Mudhorn is like, so wound up, he wouldn’t know fun if it slapped him in the face.”
A merchant selling rations could be found in the northernmost corner of the main market, a nice fellow who gave Sabine a sizable discount if she let him pat her hair. Ezra watched the display with a twinge of annoyance.
“So are we going to talk about that?”
“What. He gives a nice discount.”
“Not that.”
Oh, the metaphorical purrgil in the space station.
“No.” Whatever Ezra wanted to say about Bo-Katan could wait until they were with Ahsoka. Ahsoka would side with her, would agree that another massacre on Mandalore was a waste of human capital.
“Come on, Sabine.” Ezra grabbed her wrist. “I know you said you were done with fighting after what happened to Hera but she wouldn’t want you to give up on life.”
“I know that, I’m not stupid. I just seriously don’t think it’s going to work. Hence the waste of resources.”
“You realize Bo-Katan is going to go, whether or not you go, right? And she’s probably going to drag that kid into it and Mudhorn is going to go because he seems loyal to a fault. If you go, you get to make things happen on your terms. You outrank most of them, Koska easily. Mudhorn, maybe, but I’m sure you can tell he’s not fond of her either.”
He grabbed her shoulders. “Look at me. Fight, but make it your battle.”
Sabine wished her heart was as unsure of the answer as she wanted it to be. There was a time when this was easy. I just don’t want to lose more of my family fighting over dirt.
The pair were back before lunch, something Din was grateful for. He had taken the liberty of snooping through the cabinets for something for the kid to eat, but ever since he had eaten the meiloorun yesterday, nothing else seemed to placate him.
(Part of him wondered if this constituted spoiling a child, but with so little parenting himself, it seemed excessive to call a food preference such.)
“We have a question for you. Have you ever wanted to take down a big desert creature—like a massive worm the size of a dragon—for no real reason. Maybe nutrition, if you had to choose, but that motive is secondary.” The Jedi was in a chipper mode, using the Jedi powers—no, Force—to move contents of their speeder pack to the conservator.
Din thought back to the Krayt dragon. Did that count? He had done it to save a town, which was secondary to a desire to reclaim Boba’s armor. Deciding that the detail didn’t make him sound particularly sympathetic, he nodded.
“Sort of.”
Sabine’s eyes bugged out mid armful of rations. She inhaled sharply. “Oh.”
Ezra cackled. “That is incredibly unlucky for you, Sabine. Pay up, sucker.”
She tossed him a handful of credits that he caught without glancing backwards.
“Anyway, I think it might be good to see Ahsoka. She was pretty vague about why she wouldn’t train him from what you told us last night, and it’s about time we calibrate on a couple things anyway.”
“She’s right. Your bond with him, it can be crippling if he doesn’t learn how to let go. But Ahsoka has more reason than most of us to be wary. My Master and I were probably closer than the normal Jedi conventions would allow. But I had a mom too, and a family. I don’t think I’m a failure, and I’ve definitely had my fair share of brushes with the Dark Side.”
“Dark Side?”
“The Sith, people like Darth Vader? The Emperor?” When he sensed Din was still confused, Ezra continued. “Has he ever tried choking anyone?”
“He’s choked a couple people, but he listened to me when I told him not to do that. He also can heal.”
“Yeah, so I can probably help him keep that in check. Though it’s hard since I never was trained at the Temple, so it might take a little work from both ends. He’ll need you.” Ezra looked at him. “You said Ahsoka was last on Corvus?”
He nodded. At that the two of them shared a look. “I don’t think she’s still there now,” he added unhelpfully.
“She could be anywhere now. If she didn’t tell you where she was going, she probably planned to drop off the radar for a bit.”
Din nodded. “Perhaps Bo-Katan might know some people who could track her down. She’s the one who knew where she was in the first place.”
“No need. I believe she is on Shili.” Ezra said, a slightly glazed over look in his eyes.
Din watched him, a wary feeling crossing his body as he realized Ezra had said “believe” with more conviction than he had heard any other word coming out of the boy’s mouth. He didn’t merely believe. He knew.
“Mudhorn makes a good point though. Is Bo-Katan coming?”
“Not if I can help it.” The woman in question ducked in through the doorway, Koska in tow.
“Oh, hey Bo-Katan,” Ezra offered with a wave of his hand.
“Hey kid. Listen, if you all are going to be busy with Jedi... tasks for some time, I’m willing to part ways for a time. I have a couple of preparations I need to make for Mandalore and I know you”—she pointed at Din—“aren’t going to run off, considering what we discussed. But Sabine, I’m going to need your answer. Yes, or no?”
Sabine looked at Ezra. A moment passed before she offered a reluctant nod. “Sure. But it’s a conditional sure. I’m confident you understand.”
Bo-Katan tilted her head in acknowledgement, a terse smile on her face. “Of course.”
They watched their fellow Mandalorians depart within the hour, before they piled into an auxiliary starfighter that looked like it had seen better days.
Sabine was shifting from foot to foot. “This is my first time leaving the planet in a bit. It’s been a while since I flew the Phantom for anything more than a refueling across the planet.”
“She’s a great pilot though,” Ezra said.
“I’m a great pilot,” Sabine echoed.
“Think of it like a social call.”
“Yup, a social call.”
Din took a look at Grogu. Still knocked out.
“Well, Shili. Here we come.”