Book 3 of 3: Our Last Stand (Book 3 of "Family of Rebels")

Chapter 2: An Enemy's Return

Two weeks later.............

Sarah's POV

Good news. I've fully recovered and can continue on with the rebellion.

Bad news. No one is letting me out of their sights. Someone is always with me, trying to act normal. I tried asking them why they wouldn't leave, but they would just continue to talk. Even Ezra is doing it...

Well, that isn't too much of a surprise...

But even some pilots just stand around me and talk when no one else is there.

The thing I want the most right now is to go on a mission again. I miss fighting the Empire with the Ghost crew. I just want life to get as close to normal as a rebel's life can be.

And my wish came true.

I was called down with the rest of the Ghost crew to the meeting hall with the Senator. She assigned us to overtake an Imperial transmitter so we can be back to being one step ahead of them. It was a pretty smart plan.

But, Ezra didn't think so. The Senator took him and talked with him after the briefing while the rest of us left the room.

Later that day.........

I was meditating in an open area just outside of the base when Ezra came to me. He was still a couple yards away, but I could sense him. "You're upset." I told him. "What is it?"

He sighed. "I just don't think we are getting anything done by just sabotaging the transmitter."

"Come on. Sit with me." I offered, and so he did.

We sat in silence for a while until Ezra spoke up, "Don't you ever feel that we aren't really doing anything to the Empire? That we are already losing a war most people don't believe has even begun?"

I didn't really know the answer. I do think that we have not been doing much lately, but I think we are making a smart move by not completely annihilating it.

"Ezra," I finally said, "it not about what we are fighting. It's abo--"

"It's about how we choose to fight. I know, Sarah... but maybe we're choosing the wrong way."

Oh, boy, was this concerning. Did he want to go down the same path the Empire did? Maybe he just didn't know what he was talking about.

Come on, Sarah. Keep an open mind. Maybe it is not exactly like the Empire's ways. He might mean just being a little more... forceful. Sure, keep telling yourself that, Sarah.

Something made a sound of rumbling behind us. I turned to sense a droid rolling up to us. It projected someone.

Someone I never wanted to "see" ever again.

"Senator." he called.

Saw Gerrera.

My fists clenched out of instinct. He left with his own group to savagely make people give him information to help him stop the Empire. But, he's not stopping the Empire.

He is becoming the new Empire.

Ezra's POV

I could tell Sarah was upset by Saw speaking to us again by her fists clenching as soon as he spoke. I wanted to just make him leave for her--to be honest, I didn't want to see him, either-- but I knew I couldn't really do much without the Senator's permission.

Sarah and I stood up and faced Saw. He seemed a lot older. He didn't look well, either, like he hadn't tried to clean up in months.

Sarah fists were still clenched, so much that I thought her fingers were going to cut into her palms. I put my hand in her right hand and sent soothing waves to her. I looked down at her left hand. It was opening up. She sighed out of relief. "Thanks." she whispered. I playfully squeezed her hand quickly in response. I saw a slight smile appear on her face.

But, it didn't last long. Saw began the speak again.

"Your losses today stem from your leader's cowardliness. Their unwillingness to take decisive action against the Empire. All across the galaxy, your people suffer, while the leaders of this..." Saw laughs and continues, "... rebellion, refuse to act."

The Senator walked out at that time. One of pilots asked her, "Should I shut it down?"

"No," she said, "I would like to speak with him." She went up to the hologram, close enough that Saw clearly recognized her. Of course, he could see and hear everyone around us, including Sarah and me, who were behind him.

"Madam Senator." Saw said. "I'm honored."

"What is your business here?" the Senator asked, cutting straight to the point.

"You ignored my warning about the Delyndi Relay and paid the price. Now, you have confirmation. Yet, still, you refuse to destroy it."

"So long as our allies in the Senate have hope of a peaceful resolution to this conflict, I will not risk--"

Saw interrupted. "If you continue to let this war be fought on the Empire's terms, not yours, you are going to lose."

The Senator rolled her eyes. "I will not be lectured by a man who has proven himself a criminal."

Now it was my grip tightening, not of anger--even though I was very angry-- but of fear. Fear that he would try to hurt Sarah again.

Saw continued. "The Empire considers both of us criminals." He chuckled. "At least I act like one."

The Senator's voice cracked when she yelled, "You target civilians. Kill those who surrender. Break every rule of engagement! If we degrade ourselves to the Empire's level, what will we become?!"

Saw stayed quiet for a moment. He finally responded, "You will become a great leader. Someone who takes initiative. A better person, in fact... better than her." He pointed to Sarah and me.

At Sarah.

Saw smiled evilly.

And the Senator turned the transmission off. Saw disappeared, hopefully for the last time.

Sarah slightly looked down, not enough for anyone to notice unless someone is right next to her.

Anyone but me.

I put my hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

I looked down, too. I was still her older brother. I was seventeen, about to turn eighteen on Empire Day. Sarah would turn sixteen on Empire Day, too. I still wanted to look out for her. She has been doing that for me for years. I need to return the favor.

She put her left hand on my hand on her opposite shoulder and faced my direction. A slight, wavy smile came from under the mask.

I smiled back.

Later....................................again....................................................

Sarah, Sabine, and I were on the transmitter fighting off stormtroopers. I never knew a transmitter could ever be this big. It seems like the size of an Imperial Star Destroyer from down here!

Laser blasts came down from an unknown ship, killing all of the stormtroopers shooting at us. All three of us looked up to see who the passenger was.

I couldn't believe he was here. I just couldn't believe him. How could he even have the guts to come here?!

Saw Gerrara.

Hey guys! Really sorry it took so long, but everything has just been going crazy, so I had put this on the back-burner until everything calmed down.

I can't wait for the next episode. Poor Ezra!! :,(

BYEEE!!!!

~MarvelRebel27