Star Wars Rebels: Galaxy New Order

The Ghost

Years after the liberation of Lothal, Sabine Wren remained steadfast in her vow to protect Lothal, a promise she had made to Ezra Bridger. She took up residence in Ezra's old communication tower, accompanied only by a loyal loth-cat, distancing herself from her Mandalorian heritage and the people she once called family. The grief of losing her family during the Nights of a Thousand Tears weighed heavily on her soul. Clan Wren had been wiped out when the Empire unleashed its fury on Mandalore, bombarding the planet and destroyed the city of Sundari to rubble. In the aftermath, few Mandalorians survived, and Sabine bore the guilt of not being there for her clan in their hour of need. She had lost Ezra, her family, and her sense of belonging.

Every day, Sabine sought solace in the holo-message Ezra had left her before the final battle against the Empire on Lothal. As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange, she would lean against the fence, gazing at the city, and listen to Ezra's familiar voice:

"Hey Sabine... I know you might hate me for leaving you like this, and I didn't tell you about the plan because I knew you wouldn't like it. I made this holo to keep you company and... so you wouldn't forget me. (He chuckles softly) There are so many things I want to tell you, but I doubt this holo could hold them all. You know, I've always liked you, Sabine, more than just as a friend. I wish I could have told you sooner. The last thing I want to say is... I know I can always count on you, right? (An awkward chuckle, followed by a sigh) May the Force be with you, Sabine."

The holo would flicker off, but Sabine could never fully accept Ezra's fate. The weight of his sacrifice, coupled with her own feelings of inadequacy, pressed heavily upon her. She would often examine Ezra's lightsaber hilt, a relic of their shared past, before retreating inside to feed her loth-cat, seeking comfort in the familiar routine.

One evening, after tending to her loth-cat, Sabine retrieved a box of her personal belongings, pulling out her blasters. She scrutinized the weapons, lost in thought, before descending to the tower's lobby, where she had set up a makeshift firing range. She practised alone, firing at stormtrooper helmets she had collected as trophies. The sounds of a rapidly approaching speeder interrupted her solitude. Sabine moved cautiously towards the source until the speeder halted in front of her. Ryder emerged from the vehicle, approaching with a familiar ease.

"New speeder?" Sabine inquired, nodding towards the sleek vehicle.

"Borrowed from a friend," Ryder replied, his tone light. He paused, noting Sabine's approving smile. "How you've been, Sabine?"

Sabine fired a precise shot at one of the helmets, hitting it dead centre. "Still the same old Sabine Wren," she responded, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy.

"I can see that," Ryder remarked, watching as she took down the remaining targets with ease. Admiring her skill, she finally asked, "So, what do you want, Ryder?"

Sabine's tone turned slightly sarcastic. "You never come here empty-handed."

"Actually, I have good news," Ryder admitted, his expression shifting to one of cautious optimism.

"Ooh... Sounds exciting. Mind telling me what it is?" Sabine's curiosity was piqued, though she kept her emotions in check.

Ryder hesitated, then delivered the news he himself could hardly believe. "I think Ezra's alive."

Sabine stopped mid-shot, slowly turning to face Ryder. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her heart caught between hope and doubt.

Without wasting time, Sabine joined Ryder on a ride to his office. As they sped through the city, she couldn't help but notice how Lothal had changed. The once-scarred landscape was now dotted with skyscrapers, speeders zipping through the air, and city lights that spoke of a new era. Ryder, now a leader in the government, had overseen this transformation, but Sabine's mind was elsewhere on the possibility that Ezra might still be out there.

When they arrived at Ryder's office, Sabine was greeted by familiar faces Ahsoka, Hera, and Zeb. The reunion was tinged with surprise and nostalgia, as it had been a long time since they had seen one another. Hera approached Sabine first, her eyes warm with recognition.

"Hey, Hera," Sabine greeted, a small smile playing on her lips.

"You've changed a lot, Sabine," Hera remarked, her voice filled with a motherly pride as she embraced Sabine.

"You know me, Hera," Sabine replied, a hint of the old fire in her voice.

Zeb was next, offering a hearty hug. "It's been a while, eh Sabine?"

Sabine nodded in response, exchanging a glance with Ahsoka, who offered a light, knowing smile.

Ryder broke the brief reunion. "Alright, now that we're all here, Hera, why don't you tell Sabine what you have?"

Hera nodded, gathering everyone around. "Sabine, I know Ryder mentioned it earlier, but it's true. Somehow, Ezra is alive." Hera placed a reassuring hand on Sabine's shoulder.

Sabine's eyes widened again, disbelief tinged with hope. "Are you sure? Are there any signs?"

Hera produced a comms record, handing it to Sabine. "One of my officers on the fleet received this. The audio was unclear at first, but after Chopper cleaned it up, this is what we heard."

Hera played the recording. The voice was faint but unmistakable. "I-I...'m Ez... Ra... Bridger... A... L-live..."

Everyone in the room was stunned. Sabine's emotions whirled relief, disbelief, hope. Ryder voiced what everyone was thinking. "He must be so far away from us and needs our help."

"Or even far, far away from our galaxy," Ahsoka added, her tone heavy with the implications.

Sabine's mind raced with questions. "If Ezra's that far, how did you receive his transmission?" she asked, her curiosity cutting through her shock.

Hera smiled with pride. "My fleet has been equipped with long-range transmission technology. It's not perfect yet, but it's enough."

The group was impressed, but Sabine was resolute. "So, what are we waiting for? Let's find Ezra!"

Ahsoka, however, hesitated. "Sabine, this isn't just about finding Ezra."

Sabine scoffed, confusion and frustration building. "What do you mean?"

Silence fell over the room. No one wanted to speak the hard truth, but Hera finally gathered the courage. "If Ezra's alive... so is Thrawn."

The weight of Hera's words hit Sabine like a physical blow. "So, you're just using me to get to Thrawn? This isn't about rescuing Ezra?" Sabine's voice trembled with anger and betrayal.

Hera shook her head, her heart heavy with guilt. Ahsoka hesitated "It's not just about him, Sabine. It's about preventing another war."

Sabine shook her head in disbelief, feeling utterly betrayed. "You don't care about finding Ezra. You only care about the threat he represents."

Unable to bear the situation, Sabine stormed out of Ryder's office, her heart heavy with disillusionment. She took one of the speeders and raced back to her tower, the sense of betrayal from the only family she had left burning in her chest.

When she returned to the tower, Sabine slammed the door shut behind her, moving to her desk with a single-minded determination. As she began working on something, a voice echoed from behind her.

"I see you want Bridger back."

The voice was unfamiliar, yet there was something unsettlingly familiar in its tone. Sabine spun around, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Who the hell are you?"

Before her stood a figure akin of Maul, cloaked in a black robe. His presence was imposing, dark, and all too knowing. "I am Vorath Drakos, and I know what you seek, Sabine Wren."

Sabine's eyes widened in shock, the name and the figure before her stirring a deep sense of foreboding.