Kriff That

In A New Light:

D 2/1 BBY, Mandalore

The day Ezra Bridger saved her father was the day Sabine Wren realized that Ezra was more to her than just a friend. More than her best friend even.

And you know what did it? It was the absolute fear that overtook her as the transport went over the cliff. Sabine wasn't used to being terrified, as there was very little that scared her. But the thought of losing Ezra stopped her heart. Fear for her father was in there too, but Ezra had become her world, and she didn't know when.

Time slowed to a crawl. Her heartbeat became slow and distinct and pounded like a drum in her ears. Her breath stopped. The yell of, "Ezra!" from Kanan was almost inaudible through the white noise that overtook her. The distressed beep from Chopper also barely registered.

Ezra! Shit. Shit. Shit. Don't do this to me. Come on. Come on. Fly up. Fly up. Why didn't I give him proper lessons with the jetpack like he asked?

And then... Then a figure flew up and over the cliff just as the last of the three transports was going over the edge.

It was her father. She hadn't seen him in years, but she'd know him anywhere. Daddy! Thank the Manda. Sabine remembered to breathe again for half a moment as a temporary joy ripped through her for all of one second.

But if Father is wearing the jetpack, that means Ezra is falling. Falling down hundreds of metres to a terrible death. Frag it all to hell and back. But he's a Jedi. He can do that gravity defying landing thing. But what if he's trapped in a transport?

Don't just stand there idiot. Go see. Go rescue him. It's not too late.

Time was still moving one millisecond at a time when Sabine jumped off the ground and flew towards the cliff. Thank the Force I have my own jetpack now. But I thought this thing went faster. Kriff. More speed. More speed. She passed Kanan, who'd already taken off at a sprint for the edge of the cliff. She passed Chopper, who was also flying towards the edge of the cliff.

A hand in a familiar green glove appeared over the edge and then promptly disappeared again. Her breath caught again. EZRA!!!!! Sabine literally dove for it, throwing her body almost entirely over the edge and just managing to catch onto his hand at the last second before he wasn't within reach anymore. She didn't breathe until she had a good grip on his hand and helped to pull him up as his feet scrambled for purchase.

"Ezra!" Kanan's voice sounded loudly in the young Jedi's mind as he pushed off the second falling transport, Force leaping with everything he had for the third.

"I'm a little busy right now," Ezra thought back.

"So you're not in trouble, then?" Kanan asked, still sprinting.

Ezra pushed off the third transport, eyes pinned on the cliff face way above him. "Technically yes, but I'm pretty sure I've got this."

Kanan snorted mentally as he slowed to a jog, now seeing Sabine dive for his Padawan. "I'm not sure if it qualifies as 'got this' when assistance is required, but I'll let that slide."

Ezra mentally rolled his eyes at his Master and then focused on the girl who'd just saved his ass. I knew she would show up in the nick of time. I can always count on Sabine. Always.

"I was wondering where you were," Ezra quipped, pretending he hadn't had a total panic moment of his own. Somehow, his plan of running and jumping up the falling transports seemed a lot stupider in hindsight even if it did more or less work. But desperate times and all that.