Chapter Text
The Empire always made Lothal feel smaller.
Ezra Bridger darted through the crowded marketplace, weaving between shoppers with practiced ease. Vendors shouted over one another, stormtroopers patrolled in pairs, and somewhere nearby an Imperial transport rumbled overhead. Just another day.
He adjusted the worn commlink clipped to his belt and grinned to himself.
"Three ration packs, a loaf of meiloorun bread, and..." He pulled a polished credit chip from his pocket. "...enough credits for dinner."
Not bad for fifteen minutes' work.
"Hey!"
Ezra looked over his shoulder.
The merchant he'd borrowed the credits from had finally noticed.
"Oh... that's awkward."
He took off running.
The rooftops of Capital City were Ezra's true home. Every jump, every narrow ledge, every shortcut had been memorized years ago. The stormtroopers following below didn't stand a chance.
Until explosions echoed across the city.
Ezra skidded to a stop.
Smoke curled into the sky from the Imperial checkpoint several streets away.
"What now?"
Curiosity got the better of him.
Keeping to the rooftops, he crept closer until he could see the chaos below.
A small freighter had landed in the middle of the checkpoint.
Stormtroopers scrambled for cover while several strangers moved with incredible coordination.
A towering Lasat wielded a massive bo-rifle.
A Twi'lek woman calmly directed everyone as though she'd planned every second.
A scruffy man ignited a brilliant blue lightsaber.
Ezra's jaw dropped.
"A Jedi?"
Before he could process it, another explosion sent colorful paint splashing across an Imperial walker.
"What in the—"
He spotted the culprit.
A Mandalorian.
Brightly painted armor. Purple hair tucked beneath her helmet. She laughed as another burst of paint coated a squad of stormtroopers.
Ezra couldn't help smiling.
"Okay... she's awesome."
Almost as if she'd heard him, the Mandalorian glanced toward the rooftops.
Even through her visor, Ezra had the strange feeling she'd noticed him.
She tilted her head ever so slightly before turning back to the fight.
The moment lasted only a second.
But it lingered in Ezra's mind.
The battle was over almost as quickly as it had begun.
The mysterious crew escaped aboard their freighter, disappearing into Lothal's clouds.
Ezra remained on the rooftop long after they were gone.
A Jedi.
A Mandalorian.
People actually fighting back.
For the first time in years, the Empire hadn't looked unstoppable.
He smiled.
"I've got to find them."
He didn't know it yet.
But that single decision would change not only his life—
It would lead him to the family he'd been searching for all along.
And to the girl in painted Mandalorian armor who had looked his way for only a heartbeat... yet somehow made him feel seen.