Star Wars Rebels: Retribution is Good for the Soul (Short Story) Part 3

Forefront:

In their Room, Sabine lounged naked on their bed watching her Husband Ezra begin to get dressed. He still had to put on his Armor and be ready to depart within thirty Minutes. Though if he was late then she guessed the Shuttle would still wait for him. In Orbit there was a Retrofitted Dreadnaught that stood ready to transport him to Coruscant and the New Republic Senate. All arranged by Bo-Katan, who was not taking any chances. He wanted to argue against the fact that she also assigned Six Bodyguards to ensure his safety. But she and Sabine insisted. So what was he going to do. "Please come back to me." Sabine said as she bit her bottom lip, fearing that something or someone was going to take him away from her. He leaned downward and took her chin gently in his right hand fingers. Tilting her face upwards.

"Always." Ezra whispered to her, then kissed her. He had intended to only give her a simple goodbye kiss, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and forced a more passionate kiss. Fully tempted to pull him back into bed. But she knew he did not have the time for another encounter. The three times would have to suffice until he returned. She did not want to occupy him too much longer, since he still had to say goodbye to their Daughters. Making sure they both understood that their Daddy would be back as soon as he can. Within an hour he was in his assigned Stateroom on board the "Claw" in route to Corsucant. On the desk was everything that Bo-katan and the Council expected from the negotiations. The main high point was that the New Republic needed Mandalore, but Mandalore did not need the New Republic. Ever since the Empire had been driven off Mandalore and all of the Planets within the Mandalorian Sector, Bo-Katan and the Council had amassed a very impressive Fleet. Along with over a Dozen Golan III Defense Platforms. All with the singular purpose of never being conquered by anyone ever again.

Upon arriving at Corsucant, Ezra could not help but feel nervous. Sure Jedi of the Past were accomplished negotiators but that was lessons that Kanan never gave him. He dreaded the prospect of making a complete ass out of himself, or worse making a mistake. He paused at the Main Archway to the Senate and looked over at the Commander of his Bodyguard Detail. He knew the Man personally and learned a great deal about him when the Man had returned seeking to once more live on Mandalore with his Clan. He later volunteered to be one of the Mand'aor's Bodyguards. "Do me a favor Bobba Fett...if I begin to make a fool of myself...shoot me." Ezra said to the much older Man and he laughed.

"As much as I do not like Jedi..I just can't do that...The Mand'alor would be most displeased to learn that I shot you." Bobba said and then returned to ensure no one made any threatening moves towards his charge. He continued to chuckle at what Ezra had said. In truth he hated a certain Jedi and a certain one time Smuggler more then anyone could really hate someone. Both of them had caused him a lot of problems and one day he would have his vengeance against them. But Ezra Bridger Kryze was different. In fact he actually liked the younger Man. He found himself admiring the Young Jedi, he was not like any of the Jedi that he had come across in his Life. Once inside Ezra inhaled deeply. As a Door Warden bowed, then led them the rest of the way. Announcing him to the Gathered Senior Senators. He knew a couple of them and was actually pleased to see Leia Organa sitting among the seven Senators. Then his eyes fell onto one that he knew that he had a personal grudge against. He stepped closer to make sure it was who he thought it was. The Man squirmed in his seat as he stared in shock at who the was the Ambassador for Mandalore.

"Doctor Ryne Gihost!" Ezra slightly growled, inhaling and exhaling to keep himself from doing something that he would regret. It took him several weeks after being Banished from Lothal that the Ryne Gihost was the instigator that had urged people of Lothal to Banish him and then burn down his Tower. Gihost began to sweat as he stared in fear at the younger Man. Knowing exactly who and what he is.

"Ambassador I hope...what happened in the past...I...I...I was thinking of the safety of Lothal and...and...it may have been a mistake." Gihost stammered as he spoke, glancing over at the other six Senators, hoping that they might intervene. Draw the Jedi's attention off him. None of them was expecting Ezra the Ambassador for Mandalore to simply turn around, place his Helmet on his head and leave the Chamber without saying a word.

"Where is he going?" Leia asked as she watched the young Man she had met a few years ago depart. Then looked over at Ryne Gihost. "What...what did you do to him in the past?" She asked the other Senator and he paled immensely. Mon Mothma glared over at Gihost wanting to know as well. It took the Doctor several minutes in an attempt to explain what he did as logical and that at the time it was for his Homeworld. Though by the time he did finish, all the others were glaring at him.

"You fool...if I was ten years younger I would beat the living crap out of you." Senior Senator Randolph Volosto from Bakura stated. Leia tried not to find that funny, especially since Randolph would have to be about thirty years younger not ten to beat the crap out of anyone. The older man was reaching ninety five and may be one of the most physically fit men around, but he had a very domineering presence. She could feel that through her limited force abilities. Mon Mothma tapped her gabble.

"This is unproductive...what we need to do is have the Ambassador return so that we can begin negotiations." Mon Mothma stated, but had to believe that the young man would not anytime soon. Sp she sent Leia to try to smooth things over. Outside the Chamber, she found Ezra with his guards several feet away from him. Giving him a measure of privacy as he leaned against a column, with his eyes closed and she knew exactly what he was doing. She had seen Luke do something like that several times. He was partially meditating in an attempt to calm himself. As she walked closer, he opened his eyes and exhaled sharply.

"I am not going back in there, Princess. So do not bother asking." Ezra stated firmly. Leia leaned against the column as well. Casually not actually looking at him.

"I would not blame you if you didn't...not with Senator Ryne Gihost in there. Not after what he...took from you." Leia admitted, wondering how such a person became a Senior Senator for Lothal. Suspecting that he had built a following during that time and was able to monopolize that Following into getting himself elected as a Senator for Lothal.

"It is not what he did take from me that made me leave just now. Yes I had an urge to...It was what it did to me when he first arranged for me to be Banished from Lothal and then burn down my Home, my Tower. That was a bad time for me...especially since I was about to loose Sabine as well. When I saw Gihost I remembered...at the time I could not take anymore losses and I was considering ending it all." Ezra told her and Leia stared at him in shock. Realizing what he was saying. "If it was not for Bo-Katan and her Clan adopting me...I probably would not be here." He slumped his shoulders slightly and she could sympathize with those feelings. She had the same thoughts when Tarkin used the first Death Star to destroy her home Planet of Alderaan. She had lost so much then and all that held her together was that she could not allow something like that to happen to anyone else.

"I should let you know that all the other Senior Senators and Mon Mothma are extremely upset at Gihost. He may not be a Senior Senator after the other Senators find out about what he had done." Leia informed him. Ezra shook his head.

"That is not really the revenge I would mind having on him." Ezra admitted. "Something more personal would make me feel so much better. Perhaps someone burn down his Home. Then there would be Cosmic Balance." With that he walked away and Leia considered having Han fly her to Lothal so she could arrange an accident at Gihost's elaborate Home. She knew her Husband would not mind, mainly because it would give him a small taste of his roguish past. But it would go against her grain to commit arson. Especially since it was illegal.

000000

Luke Skywalker begged his Sister to allow him to see Ezra Bridger. It was a rare occurrence to actually meet another Jedi and he wanted to at least ask the other about joining the New Jedi Order. Perhaps elevate some of the doubts he had about his own limited abilities. He had a lot to learn and having someone that was trained longer then two weeks would vastly help. After he basically groveled, Leia inquired if Ezra was willing to meet with her Brother. Now he was standing outside the Guest Suite, feeling his palms sweat. "Leave the Lightsaber...Jedi!" A familiar man growled as he held out his hand.

"Bobba Fett...I am surprise to see you here." Luke countered handing the one time Bounty Hunter his Lightsaber. "I doubt that Han Solo knows you are here..or by now he would be up here to..." He said to Bobba and the older man laughed. Passing the Lightsaber over to one of the other Guards who placed it into a secured locker.

"Tell him if you like...personally I would not mind it at all..the Ambassador is expecting you." Fett opened the door and as Luke walked by him. "Try anything and I will take great pleasure in killing you." He whispered and then after Luke was inside he shut the door. Kneeling in the center of the room, was Ezra.

"I know why you are here Luke...sorry but I am not interested." Ezra said not even looking at Luke. Instead his focus seemed to be elsewhere and Luke knew that Ezra had just finished Meditating. Sitting across from him, Luke was not expecting the other to say no so quickly. He had rehearsed a whole speech about how much the New Republic needed Jedi. Then before he could even say a word, Ezra said no that he was not interested.

"Can I ask why not?" Luke asked and Ezra shook his head.

"For one I am an Adopted Mandalorian and I plan on keeping mostly near Mandalore. Then there is a really important other reason. I contacted my Adoptive Aunt Bo-Katan who happens to be the Ruler of Mandalore and she has decided to not have Mandalore become a member of the New Republic." Ezra told him and Luke was flabbergasted. All he could think of was all the ground work that his Sister Leia had done to negotiate with Ezra and now it would be for nothing. Before he could ask. "She is not as forgiving as I try to be. Because of what they did to me on Lothal...she will not condone any type of alliance. Believing that if the New Republic allows for someone like Ryne Gihost to become a Senior Senator then it just shows how dishonorable the New Republic can be." He explained with a small wry smile. "Could you tell Leia...Since I will be leaving in the next hour or so." With that he stood leaving Luke sitting on the floor in a daze.

In another Suite Gihost paced around his desk. Everything was falling apart, the other Senior Senators were talking about revoking his status and from what he had heard the People of Lothal were considering impeaching him as their Representative to the New Republic. He had during his Election campaign told the People that Ezra Bridger was gone and no one knew where he was. Even though he knew exactly where the Young Jedi was. After the fall of the Empire the People of Lothal wanted Ezra to come back. He could not allow that to happen at that time. He had spent the whole time before the fall basically changing who the real Heroes that freed Lothal were. He had minimized the extent and efforts that Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren, Kanan Jarrus and Hera Sydulla involvement during that time. Citing others as the real Heroes, which included himself even though he did not actually do any real fighting. If Bridger and Wren returned then, all of his changes would be exposed and his Political aspirations would have been destroyed. "Why couldn't he just stay on Mandalore and keep out of public eye." He muttered as he sat down behind what would soon not be his desk. Rotating his right wrist and still feeling some discomfort from when Wren had broken it.

Exhaling slowly, Leia leaned back in her chair. Luke had come to tell her the bad news and though she was disappointed. She was not surprised. She actually expected some type of fallout over the whole incident. Though she did not know that Ezra had been adopted by Bo-Katan Kryze and her Clan. "So what is the New Republic going to do?" Luke asked as Han massaged her Shoulders. Trying to relieve some of the tension she felt. She shrugged moving her Husbands hands slightly.

"Start over...which means...I have to conduct tentative negotiations again with their Ruler...Bo-Katan Kyrze." Leia felt the tension build back up at the thought of what that meant. Several Holonet Communications, in person discussions and spend hours rewriting another possible Treaty. While she also attended the countless meetings with the Senior Leadership and all of her others Political obligations. Han winced slightly at that.

"Great more late nights and early mornings." Han grumbled, having an impulsive urge to walk into Ryne Gihost's office and beat the living crap out of him. "Perhaps I could talk to this Ezra Bridger...I can be really persuasive when I have to be."

"NO." Both Leia and Luke stated firmly together at the same time. They still had not told him about who Ezra's Bodyguard Commander was. Not wanting him to know yet. They both knew that Han would not take the news too well upon learning that Bobba Fett was here. He stared at them in confusion.

"What someone step on your feet or something?" Han asked surprised at how they had both responded so quickly. Leia shook her head.

"I..well we just think that you might not be able to convince him and you could further aggravate him." Leia replied with a small smile to Luke who nodded his agreement.

"Besides by now he has left...he did say he was leaving within the hour and it has been that long." Luke added and Han looked him and then down at Leia. Believing that they both acting very strangely.

In Orbit and then In Route:

Once more in his Suite on board the "Claw", Ezra sent a Message first to Sabine and then to Bo-Katan. Stating that he was on his way back home. After he found something extremely amusing. It seemed that the People on Lothal were incensed to learn that Ryne Gihost had lied his way into office. He had found out years ago that the People of Lothal wanted him to come home after the fall of the Empire and Gihost had informed the People that he was nowhere to be found. Though Ryder Azadi before he left Lothal had told Gihost and a few others right where Ezra was. That knowledge was suppressed so that Gihost could manipulate his way into Politics. Ezra thought it funny that the Man was now in so much trouble that he might end up being banished from Lothal. Clicking on the Lothalian News, he did laugh when it was reported that some disgruntled citizens had looted and burned Gihost's house down. "HA! Cosmic Balance!" Ezra said then sent the News Report to Sabine and Bo-Katan. Believing that they would find it just as amusing as he did.

The Future:

"Welcome to Mandalore Grand Admiral." Bo-Katan said politely as Thrawn bowed slightly.

"I am pleased that I am welcomed to Mandalore. That none of you are not letting the past influence..the reasons that I have come here." Thrawn said glancing over subtly to see two people glaring at him openly. One of them had two Lightsabers hung on his belt, while the other had her hands poised over her twin Blasters.

"Well I have to keep an open mind in my position as the Mand'alor." Bo-Katan stated then smiled. "Though I was tempted to have our Ships blasts yours into space dust for what you did do to Mandalore." She gave a soft chuckle as the other Imperial with Captain Insignia on his Chest began to reach for his own Blaster. While a short sinewy Creature growled. Thrawn held up his right hand towards them.

"It is alright Captain Pelleaon...Rukh..I expected as much..or actually I expected that you would have fired on us the moment we arrived in your Space." Thrawn said and his subordinate and his bodyguard returned to just standing over by the door. Pelleaon wished that the Grand Admiral would have allowed them to bring a detachment of Stormtroopers. Having them nearby would remove a lot of the normal Mandalorian bluster and disobedience that they were portraying. It did disturb him that one of those here had two Lightsabers on his belt. Either he fancied himself as a competent duelist or he was a Jedi.

"That would be impossible...the only known Jedi is Luke Skywalker." Pelleaon muttered to himself. Then stared at the young man intently, his eyes widened. "Wait that is the boy that..." He glared at the Young Man angrily. Thinking about the year it took them to return from where those Creatures had dragged them. It was not a pleasant experience. Especially when half the Crew had abandoned ship when the Creatures latched themselves onto his Ship and in that year his and the other Ships had to basically fight their way through hordes of Pirates and hostile races.

"As I was about to say...I would like to ensure that you are not going to support the Rebels in the Empires upcoming war with them." Thrawn asked and Bo-Katan chuckled.

"What if we do? There is not much you can do to us that we have to worry about..do we?" Bo-Katan stated and Thrawn inhaled deeply.

"Yes in the time between the...unfortunate retreat up to now...you have amassed an impressive fleet and defenses. But if you should happen to send even a third of your Fleet to assist the Rebels..that would leave you exposed." Thrawn countered and Bo-Katan still smiled. Then gestured over to her Nephew.

"True...though if I did decide to aid the New Republic...I believe we could send at least a quarter of our fleet along with perhaps my Nephew to lead them...you would not find it very pleasant would you?" Bo-Katan asked and Thrawn grimaced, then shook his head.

"No I would not." Thrawn admitted, glancing over at Ezra Bridger. The Grand Admiral was not that concerned if the Mandalorians became involved in the conflict. But he really did not want Ezra Bridger Jedi Knight involved. For one at some point Jedi Master Joruus C'baoth would probably have an encounter with the Younger Jedi and such an event would be disastrous. Unlike Luke Skywalker, he postulated that Ezra would be able to tell that C'baoth was following the Dark Side of the Force and then there would be a confrontation. One that neither probably would survive. "So I was hoping that I might persuade you not to become involved. As I understand it...you have not accepted to join the Rebels yet...all I am asking is for you to perhaps...wait for the time being." He advised and Bo-Katan smiled.

"What type of persuasion do you have in mind?" Bo-Katan asked and Thrawn smiled as well. Then offered her what he intended to in the first place. Three Brand New Converted Star Destroyers, fresh from the Shipyards. He actually needed them for his grand plan to work, but found it more important that he use them to keep the Mandalorians out of the upcoming conflict. With the Mandalorian Fleets the Rebels would have at least what would be almost two more Sector Fleets to throw at the Empire. That could result in disaster. Even with the Dark Force of Katana Dreadnaughts. "Then we have an agreement..as long as you continue to not attempt any of your actions against Mandalore." Thrawn quickly agreed and then departed.

Stepping up to the Throne, Ezra and Sabine shook their heads. "I know...I know...but what choice did we actually have...We were not about to join the New Republic and this way we do get three Star Destroyers to add to our Fleets." Bo-Katan said and then slumped. She did not like the idea of taking a bribe from the Empire to stay out of the War. Ezra smiled reassuringly.

"It is alright Aunt Bo...actually I was going to advise that Mandalore not become involved...so if the Empire is willing to give us 3 Star Destroyers then...it works out doesn't it?" Ezra had surprised both Bo-katan and Sabine with that.

"Why would you advise not getting involved...the Empire seems to be up to their old tricks again? Eventually they will turn their attention towards us." Sabine said and Ezra turned towards her.

"Oh there is no doubt that eventually they will...but we need to look at this as an opportunity. If the Empire is able to defeat the New Republic then we should be able to work something out with them since we are cooperating with them...if the New Republic wins again...we can reopen negotiations and eventually join them." Ezra replied and this concerned Sabine a bit. She stared at him, frowning and then smiled slightly.

"You sound less like a Jedi and more like a Bothan right now." Sabine then laughed and so did Bo-katan. "But that does sound like a good idea..either way we stay neutral and are in a good position to join whichever side does win this." She added and Bo-katan had to agree. It did sound like a good idea. "So once Thrawn's Ships leave are you going to bring your Husband home Aunt Bo?" She asked and the older woman nodded. As soon as the Empire's Twelve Star Destroyers were detected she had sent Finn Rau to take Command of the Defense Fleets.

"Yes...we are still trying and we are not about to give up on me having a Baby." Bo-katan declared and both Sabine and Ezra hoped that eventually she would. "It is comforting that my Great Nieces and Nephew are here. Otherwise I...I might fall into despair for not being able to get pregnant." Silently thanking whatever deity that had gave her the insight to Adopt Ezra into her Clan and as her Nephew. It had worked out better then she could hope for. "Well I guess I have to contact the New Republic and give them the bad news...again." Standing she first hugged Ezra and then pulled Sabine into the embrace. "See you and the children for dinner later?" She asked and both nodded. She smiled warmly and then let the two go and walked away. Heading to the Communications Room. Both Sabine and Ezra then left as well to get the Children ready for dinner with their Great Aunt.

000

Once out of Mandalorian Space, Thrawn visibly relaxed. He had made sure to keep the landing party small when going before the Mand'alor because he did not want C'baoth learning about Ezra Bridger. If the Mad Jedi Master ever learned about Ezra and the young Jedi's children, he might get the idea to attempt to contact him. Which Thrawn knew would result in disaster. "Set course back to the Fleet...we have a War to wage and to win." Thrawn ordered and the Chimaera along with the other 11 Star Destroyers jumped into Hyperspace.

The End