A Light in the Darkness (Star Wars Rebels)

Together Again

"Is that the Phantom?" Evelyn asked. They had been walking for a good while with no civilization in sight. Ezra followed Evelyn's eyes. Overhead the Phantom began to fly closer to the moon's surface. The moment it touched down Ezra, Evelyn, and Switch were buried in hugs from the crew.

"Thank goodness you're ok!" Hera said, crushing Ezra with surprising strength.

"Let go! You're killing me!" Ezra gasped. Hera released him and hugged Evelyn instead.

"I'm so sorry," she told Evelyn. Something was off with the tone of her voice. Evelyn noticed the subtle difference.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Your aunt," Sabine began, "she-"

Evelyn held up a hand to stop her.

"She's dead, isn't she?" she asked. The rebels nodded. Evelyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Right," she said. "I need you guys to take me back to the Capitol on Mandalor."

---

"I thought I would find you in here," Evelyn said from behind Ezra. He put down the datapad he had been holding and rubbed his eyes. Evelyn sat on the desk next to him.

It had been three days since the crew had returned to Mandalor's Capitol. Customary to Mandalorian custom, Evelyn's aunt had received a special death ceremony in order to be laid to rest. Naturally, none of the rebels had been invited. It would have been all too easy for someone to recognize them. Instead, Ezra used his time to search through Jared's belongings for any hint of who sent him or who he worked with. He had been able to find nothing. Jared took all of his weapons with him when he died, and his datapad and been wiped clean. Only one bit of information was left. A description of an unknown poison. It didn't list any cures, only how long it took for the poison to show symptoms and all visual indicators of the victim having been poisoned.

"You've been shut up in here for ages, all quiet and sullen," Evelyn said. "I'm supposed to be the one mourning, not you."

"I've been looking for evidence on Jared's fellow traitors," Ezra explained. "So far I haven't had any luck."

"If I were them, I'd be pretty scared and covering my tracks too," Evelyn said.

"You look different," Ezra told her.

"What, a formal mourning gown looks different than travel clothes?" Evelyn asked with raised eyebrows. "How long did it take you to figure that one out, Fluffy?"

It was true. During the time of mourning, Evelyn had worn a long black satin gown and a dark veil. Now she wore pants and an ordinary shirt. Her hair had been cut short once again, so that it barely reached her shoulders. Her arm had been healed completely after some time with a medical droid.

"Is a Duchess allowed to dress like that?" Ezra asked.

"I can dress however I want," she told him. "But as a matter of fact, I'm not Duchess anymore."

"What?"

Evelyn smiled at Ezra's reaction.

"I handed power over to the Chancellor," she explained. "He'll be taking care of things while I'm gone."

"Where are you going?" Ezra asked.

"With you dummy!" Evelyn teased. "I can't let you all run off into danger without me, can I?"

"Especially not if I'm not there to save your life, Kitty," Ezra reminded her. Evelyn shrugged.

"What about Switch?" Ezra asked.

"He's been reunited with his family. His aunt is super happy to see him," Evelyn said.

"Funny how his name really was Switch, wasn't it?" Ezra said.

"Yeah, just like how it's funny your name is Ezra," Evelyn replied.

"Point taken," he said.

"Let's get going," Evelyn told him with a laugh. "The rest of the crew is waiting, and it won't be long before the Empire shows up."

Ezra stood up to follow Evelyn out the door. For a moment his vision went dark and his stomach turned. Seconds later the sensation passed. Evelyn was watching him in concern.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

"I'm fine," Ezra told her. "Just stood up too fast."

But he had the distinct feeling that something followed them out of the room and back onboard the rebel ship. Something menacing.

End Book 1

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