Star Wars: Rebels: Truth in Legends

Disclaimer: Star Wars Rebels and all Star Wars characters and Lore are not my property, as they are all owned by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company.

A/N: So, fair warning, this chapter gets a bit... heated, at the start, but nothing to surpass the T rating. Some Sabezra citrus as recompense for the long wait. Yes, this new chapter has been a long time coming, but it's here at last. Between losing my old writing computer and adjusting to a new schedule at work, I confess I've overextended myself with unrealistic expectations as of late, but enough about me. I do hope those of you who are stuck at home are doing well in these uncertain times. Now, enjoy!

Chapter 6: Tomorrow is Another Day

Travel through hyperspace from the Chorlian Sector to the Y'Toub System in Hutt Space took about two standard days with most hyperdrives, including the one fitted aboard the Starbird. While the Mandalorian-built Kom'rk-class fighter/transport had undergone an interior refit and recieved a new paint job since falling into the hands of Rebellion, most of its systems remained the same as they had been before its acquisition.

Ezra emerged from the refresher, toweling the last remnants of his shower off from his hair and back as he did so. He was clad only in a loose pair of sleeping pants. As he opened his eyes and went to reach for his shirt which lay folded neatly atop the bed, he found that he was alone in the ship's main quarters. His mind immediately went elsewhere, and the young Jedi left the room as he was. It wasn't long before he found his wife in the small lounge just behind the cockpit.

Her back was to him, her focus on her current painting project which encompassed much of the wall behind the deep orange couch that formed a half circle around the dejarik table. Both had been acquired from a junked Corellian light freighter. She stood on her knees atop the couch, clad in her light purple bath robe. It was evident she had returned to painting fresh from her own shower not long ago.

He couldn't help but take a moment to admire the sight before him. From the first moment he had layed eyes upon her, Ezra Bridger had been a firm believer that Sabine Wren was without exageration the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen in his young life, and the years they spent together had done nothing to diminish that view. They had been intimate more than once and were now married, so there wasn't any mystery of the flesh left between them, and the Lothalian remained steadfast in his belief that there wasn't any finer speciman of woman than the Mandalorian with whom he now shared his life. The way her dyed dark purple hair softly caressed the back of her neck and the sides of her face, her tan skin, the way her robe hugged her curves thanks to the fastened belt wrapped snug at her waist just above her firm hips, and of course her generous posterior and slender legs. There wasn't a centimeter of her body that he didn't cherish, but above all else, it was her heart and soul that had come to captivate him so.

Just how had he gotten so lucky? What had he done to deserve her? A pang of regret tugged at his chest as he recalled their tense reunion earlier that day.

The daughter of Clan Wren squeaked in spite of herself when she felt Ezra's strong arms slowly wrap around her waist, but relaxed less than a second later when she felt his chin rest confortably on her right shoulder.

"You know, most consider it foolish to sneak up on a Mandalorian, oh husband of mine," she teased, looking over her shoulder at him while she laced the fingers on her left hand with his cybernetic ones.

"I'm sorry," he breathed against her neck, "you're just so beautiful, cyri'ka," he pressed a kiss to her exposed skin, "Forgive me."

Her brief sense of pride in his spot-on pronounciation in her native langauge was drowed out as Sabine quickly felt her face heat up in response to his words and actions, and she also felt a certain warmpth beginning to form in her lower regions as well. She let out a soft moan when she felt him nip at her ear and kiss her neck some more, and set down her painting tool to reach back and caress his face while keeping their fingers laced in her other hand. She felt her arousal building between her legs, and felt his too pressing against her bum.

"Ezra..." she moaned.

"Yes, Sabine?" he paused to ask her, huskily.

Almost instantaneously, the young Mandalorian pushed the young Jedi back and maneuvered herself around, her amber eyes darkening with passion. Ezra almost forgot to breathe for a moment when his deep blue eyes caught her gaze, but he quickly regained his focus and they mirrored her look not a moment later. She pushed him back, her stare and movements almost hypnotic. Their eyes were firmly locked on eachother.

Sabine climbed over and straddled him, and she knew without a doubt what was to come would be Ezra's favorite activity using the dejarik table.

Back inside the secret base concealed behind Meridian Hall in the industrial sector on Nar Shaddaa, Antiochus stepped inside a dimly-lit meditation chamber, the faint traces of deep red light provided only by a pair of small Sith Obelisks. The cult master stood in silence as the door closed behind him, carefully gauging the cloaked dark lord who sat cross-legged on a red cushion with their back to him. The power of the Dark Side radiated strongly in the small room. After about a minute or so, Darth Novos finally spoke up, not moving in the slightest from his meditation.

"They are coming, and will be here soon."

Antiochus wasted no time inquiring further.

"You mean Bridger and Wren, my lord?"

"Yes, the two of them, as well as Vader and the new Grand Inquisitor," the Sith Lord who inherited the mask of Darth Nihilus elaborated simply. The former, however, did not keep quite so calm at the revelation.

"Wait, Vader? The plan called for only the wannabe Jedi and the failed bounty hunter!" Antiochus raised his voice sharply, his tone exasperated, frustrated, and perhaps just a bit... fearful.

"You're an even greater fool than I thought if you believed the false empire would not respond to your handiwork on Ryloth," Novos retorted sharply, in no mood to mince words with the Society's leader.

"So..." Antiochus snarled in spite of himself, his irritation surpassing his fear of the dark lord for the moment, "what now?"

"Now, we do nothing. Our enemies come to us, and we need only await their arrival," Novos explained resolutely, ignoring the cult leader's dispostion, "The original plan remains, it's just been expanded to include two more. You will confront the Jedi and the Mandalorian. Vader and his chosen are mine, as I am presently the only one on this moon capable of facing either of them. I will also be taking the majority of the Adherrents, but you're free to use the remainder of your resources against your targets should you so desire."

"I will not require backup to deal with a fraud and a flunky," the Grand Master of the Great Dragon Society replied, disgust in his voice as his thoughts shifted to the young Jedi and Mandalorian.

"Be warned," Novos interjected, still not turning to face the other man, "As I've told you before, I have faced Bridger and Wren myself on more than one occaision in the past. You underestimate them at your own peril."

"As you say, my lord," Antiochus acknowledged the warning unethusiastically, "Care to elaborate on your history with those two?"

"No, I don't," was all the masked Sith Lord said in reply. "You are dismissed. Make your final preparations, for the moment of reckoning fast approaches."

"Very well, then."

And with that, the Society's leader turned and departed, leaving the dark lord to continue his meditation in renewed silence.

Some time later the following day, back on board the Starbird and inside the cargo hold, Ezra had knelt down before the ancient chest he had brought back with him from the vault beneath the Sanitarium. The lid was unlatched and open once more, and the young Jedi held the bronzium-plated mask of Revan securely in his grip. His deep blue eyes scanned it intently, his brows furrowed and his mind deep in thought. Even still, he did not miss the footsteps of his wife as she approached from behind. He caught her reflection in the mask's lense; her expression was one of sympathy.

"A part of me still doesn't want to believe it," he stated simply, "But from the moment I first laid eyes on this dusty old gear I'd never seen before in my life, I couldn't help but feel as if... it should be familiar to me..."

"Well, if it helps, I'm not having much luck processing this revelation myself, Ezra," she sighed, coming to kneel down beside him on his left, "A lot of my people had come to regard Revan as a myth, some spooky story parents used to scare their children into behaving. Clans Viszla and Kryze in particular completely wrote him off as some 'Jedi propaganda,'" she snorted, pausing for a moment before musing further, "But Clans Flong, Ordo, Kelborn, and Fett always told the stories as though they were historical record. Seems they were right."

"Sabine..." Ezra turned to look her in the eyes. The shifting tone of his voice betrayed his worry. She met his gaze intently, waiting patiently for him to continue. "I may dread the answer, but I have to know: does this change anything regarding our marriage in the eyes of your family and the rest of the clans? Or... with you?"

The young Mandalorian promptly rolled her eyes and leaned in for a quick peck on his lips.

"It became quite apparent to me early on that you were something different, Ezra," she told him with a grin as she pulled back, "A good different, as I learned later on. I fell in love with you, and you alone. Your ancestry doesn't change how I feel. You could be related to the Emperor for all I care, and you'd still be the same cheeky Lothrat we picked up off the streets years ago, and the same brilliant Jedi and wonderful man who became my life-mate, forevermore," she smiled at him warmly as she finished, her amber eyes glimmering as they remained locked on his.

The young Jedi couldn't resist returning her kiss at that moment. She reached up and wiped away the faint traces of happy tears that had formed in the corners of his eyes with her thumbs.

"Thank you, Sabine. I'd be lost without you," he chuckled slightly, and her adoring smile returned.

"And as for my family and the other clans, I made it clear their perception of you means little to me, and that hasn't changed. Though, I honestly don't think my parents, my brother, or Mand'alor will change their opinions of you, regardless of the news."

"Yeah, Mand'alor in particular was pretty adamant of my lineage once he got a good look at this lightsaber," Ezra recalled as he gestured to the ancient hilt clasped on his right hip.

"Which reminds me," Sabine interjected, "we should contact him for further information on our destination once we drop out of hyperspace, though I think you should be the one to call this time," she teased.

Before Ezra could inquire on that suggestion, a familiar set of mechanical footsteps drew their attention to the open doorway behind them.

"Statement: Pardon the intrusion, master, but the navicomputer has indicated we have just entered the Yout'b System. It is estimated that we will arrive at Nar Shaddaa in approximately six hours, twenty two minutes, and forty six seconds."

"Thank you, HK," the Lothalian nodded at the ancient assassin droid. "Is there anything else?"

"Answer: The power regulators on the sublight drives are operating at optimal capacity once again," the mechanized killer replied as-a-matter-of-fact, much to the puzzlement of the two organics.

"There was a problem with the sublight engines?" Ezra arched a brow.

"And you didn't tell us, because...?" Sabine eyed the droid quizzically.

"Answer: When the ship's diagnostic systems alerted me to the problem, the two of you had been presently interfacing, and I did not believe it prudent to-"

"Okay, okay, that's enough," the young Jedi waved his hands frantically as he quickly interrupted, "We don't need to hear any more!" His face and that of the young Mandalorian had both turned wide-eyed and colored a deep shade of crimson.

"Suggestion: Master, if you wish to maintain some discretion in regards to when you, as some meatbags say, 'charge up her loading ramp,' then I recommend you install adequate sound-dampening tech on the walls in your quarters."

A flustered and annoyed Sabine eyed Ezra quizzically, to which he quickly amended, "I swear, I've never used that phrase!"

Once the Starbird dropped out of hyperspace within sight of the infamous Smuggler's Moon, Ezra quickly set about hailing Mand'alor over the holocommunicator, not wishing to waste any more time. As he did so, however, he couldn't help but look out beyond the ecumenopolis to the planet that it orbited.

Evocar looked exactly as it did the last time he had laid eyes upon it. Lush green landscapes broken up by sparkling light blue seas, all behind a sky of pure white clouds. Its appearance remained a stark contrast to the bloated, gaseous swamp world it had been a mere five years ago, during the final battle with Grand Inquisitor Nachtgeist on the Infinite Reformer. A brief chill swept through Ezra at the memory. It had without doubt been the single most harrowing ordeal of his life to date. Still, as he looked upon the beautiful world in the distance, he couldn't help but silently muse to himself that at least something good had come of the malevolent dark sider utilizing that giant leftover piece of Rakata technology.

"Bridger, why am I not surprised?" the voice of Mand'alor the Vindicator pulled him from his thoughts, and he shifted his gaze to the hologram that had just appeared between himself and his wife, the latter of who had quickly taken notice of the background noise coming over the holocall's audio.

"What's going on, sir?" Sabine inquired with the ruler of her people respectfully.

"This isn't exactly the most ideal time for a chat," the last survivor of the original True Mandalorians explained, "The bulk of our armed forces here at the capital are shipping out as we speak, and I will be departing aboard my ship within the hour. But I take it this isn't a social call. No, the two of you need something from me again, right?"

"We need some information on Nar Shaddaa, if you have the time," Ezra affirmed the older man's suspicions.

"I really don't have the time, but since I know you won't leave me alone otherwise," Mand'alor sighed and paused for a moment, then looked over his shoulder and called out to someone off-camera. "Kevas! Bring me our last intel report on Nar Shaddaa, and get Alrich over here, double time!"

"Yes sir!" came the reply, faint over the holocall.

"Mand'alor, sir!" Shysa interrupted as he stepped into view, his own hologram forming alongside that of the the leader, "Lady Kryze just provided us with an update from the front!"

"See that it's transmitted to all command staff. I'll look over it myself once we depart."

"At once!" and with that Mand'alor's second-in-command stepped back out of view.

"Wait, 'the front?'" Sabine quieried, her brows creasing in worry in spite of herself, "And my father is there with you? What's going on?"

When the Mandalorian ruler turned to face them again, the young Jedi and Mandalorian could both tell he was looking at them with tired eyes, despite the fact that his face remained hidden inside his helmet.

"Palpatine seems quite determined to bring us under his heel, and this time he's not using subterfuge or making deals with traitors in our ranks. As of our last intel report on the situation, the entire Fifth, Nineteenth, and Twenty Second Fleets of the Imperial Navy have crossed our borders and launched an all-out offensive into our territories. So far no worlds have been lost, but five systems are currently under siege, the most recent of those being Dalzaran. Our forces there relayed the news around eight hours ago."

"Dalzaran?!" Sabine was immediately alarmed, "That system borders Krownest!"

"Never fear, my daughter," the patriarch of Clan Wren interjected as he stepped into view, his hologram forming alongside that of Mand'alor, "Ursa, Tristan, and the others have already finished preparations. The bulk of our clan left to link up with the defenders on Dalzaran One in preparations for a counterassault."

"Father!" the daughter of Clan Wren sighed in relief, releasing a breath she hadn't known she was holding in. Ezra's own expression softened at her actions, and a smile smile formed on his lips.

"Alrich was summoned here at my discretion to serve as a cultural advisor for an art exhibition planned here at the capital," Mand'alor explained, "That's now on hold indefinitely, of course. He arrived not long after you called inquiring on the whereabouts of your life-mate, young Wren."

The Lothalian's eyes went wide and his smile vanished instantaneously.

"Wait, you're the one who ratted me out?!" Ezra was both outraged and flustered at the revelation. He briefly glanced over at Sabine, who merely regarded him with a knowing and proud grin.

"She was clever, Manda'vod. She exploited my complete lack of care or concern for what you were doing," the aged warrior leader drolled in retort. Alrich merely chuckled and shook his head beside him. At that moment, the younger warrior of Clan Bralor returned, and promptly handed a datapad to Mand'alor, who nodded as he took it. Kevas stood at attention and saluted before departing to return to other duties without a word. "I'll transmit the contents of this report on Nar Shaddaa to your ship. Once that's done we'll have to keep comm silence for awhile, I'm sure you both understand."

"Thank you, Mand'alor," Sabine bowed respectfully.

"We have things well in hand, Sabine," Alrich reassured his daughter, "I look forward to seeing you again, soon. And you as well, son-in-law," he winked at Ezra with a grin as he finished.

"Oh, yes, thank you, sir," Ezra nodded.

"Actually," Mand'alor interrupted as he peered through the datapad's contents, "There is one thing the two of you can do to help out our defense, and aid your Rebellion at the same time."

"Name it," Sabine acquiesed.

"There is a unit of Imperial Storm Commandos on Nar Shaddaa scheduled to ship out in two days' time, to link up with the Imperial Army forces being deployed from the Fifth Fleet. Apparently they are being led by some ISB agent called Gideon. The facility they're currently holed up in is near the old Promenade in the entertainment sector on the moon. A handful of Rebel prisoners are being held there, including a one CT-4767, aka Captain Rex."

The young couple felt their eyes go wide at the name drop. It had been too long since they last heard anything of the old clone.

"Captain Rex is still alive?" Ezra was the first to find their voice again, "He's been listed as MIA since the evacuation of Massassi Base!"

"I assume this intel was passed on to Rebel command," Sabine quickly reasoned, "Why weren't we told of this earlier?"

"There are thousands of Rebels who have been taken prisoner across the Galaxy," Mand'alor reasoned, "Rebel command doesn't have the resources to stage rescue attempts for all of them. We Mandalorians were planning a few raids on facilities like this one, but we've had to put those plans on hold given the current sitation."

"We'll do everything we can to free Rex and the other prisoners, and put those Imperial commandos on ice," the Lothalian assured the Mandalorian leader, who nodded in acknlowedgement.

"That's good to hear, Manda'vod. That old man is one the few remaining clones of Jango Fett, my predecessor and the finest Mand'alor I ever knew. His legacy deserves better than to waste away in an Imperial prison cell."

About half an hour later, the Starbird had come to rest on a landing pad at a privately-owned public spaceport close to the old Promenade. The idea was to use the incoming and outgoing civilian and commercial traffic to mask their arrival as much as possible. Down in the entry bay, Ezra, Sabine, and HK-47 immediately set about locking and loading all the equipment neccessary for storming an Imperial SpecOps outpost, and a cult of dangerous Force-sensitives on top of that.

"Statement: I calculate a 99.8% probability that I will be enjoying myself very much very soon, master," the ancient assassin droid remarked, amusement and giddiness in his tone as he clicked an ammo clip into place on his blaster carbine.

"And the .2%?" Ezra inquired flatly while buckling his utility belt. All the while, Sabine stocked up on some extra thermite charges.

"Answer: I factored in 00.2% chance that you would successfully employ the disappointing and self-destructive Jedi notion of pacifism and ruin everyone's good time. Addendum: I know that such calculations may be pessimism on my part, master."

The young Jedi couldn't help but roll his eyes in response.

Suddenly, the alert on the holocommunicator sounded and was transmitted throughout the ship. Both Ezra and Sabine returned to the cockpit, the former waiting as the latter took the initiative to see who was calling.

"It's an encrypted frequency, from the Rebel Fleet," the Mandalorian quickly deduced.

"That figures," the Jedi couldn't help but sigh, "Better put it through."

Neither of them expected the familiar face that had sought them out, and the couple each had to stifle a surprised gasp. It was Sabine who found her voice first, this time.

"Hera!"

"I... uh, it's good to see you," Ezra greeted their surrogate mother a bit awkwardly. It had been awhile since he'd last spoken to her. The veteran Twi'lek pilot-turned Rebel general and single mother put on a soft smile for her two eldest children.

"I'm glad I caught the two of you before you left. Mand'alor sent a transmission informing command of your status. I was afraid I would be too late."

"What can we do for you, Hera?" Ezra inquried earnestly. His irritation at being interrupted was gone; his expression was now one of concern. Sabine held a similar expression.

"Listen..." Hera began, her eyes briefly darting back and forth between the two of them, "I know the two of you went to Nar Shaddaa to confront the cult that ambushed us on Ryloth. I just want you both to know, I wish I could be there with you. I have a personal stake in the outcome of this, same as the both of you."

"No," Sabine interrupted, drawing the focus of the other two to her, "It's not the 'same' as us, Hera. This is even more personal for you than it is for Ezra and I. I'm... I'm sorry we haven't been keeping you in the loop about what's been going on the last couple of weeks."

"Please don't feel bad about it," the Twi'lek interjected, "My duties with the fleet, and with Dawn have kept me occupied. I couldn't have accompanied the two of you on this mission, anyway."

"Sabine is right, though," Ezra chimed in, "Finding Kanan, whatever happened to him or wherever he is now, this is more important to you than it is for us."

"He was your teacher, Ezra," Hera stated, her tone soft and sympathetic.

"And he's your husband, and the father of your child," the young Jedi retortly resolutely, "And Dawn is a smart, gifted little girl who deserves to have her father back in her life as well. What Sabine and I do here, it's for the both of you as well."

The Rebel general blinked rapidly and wiped her eyes in response to the heartfelt declaration, and the young Mandalorian's own eyes shone with pride and adoration as she looked at her husband from beside him.

"Thank you, Ezra," Hera said in gratitude after taking a breath and collecting herself. "You too, Sabine. I look forward to seeing the two of you again."

"We'll be back soon, Hera, promise," Sabine told her with a nod, which she returned. And with that the holocall ceased, and the daughter of Clan Wren promptly kissed her favorite Jedi on the cheek, briefly startling him, "How do you always know just what to say?" she asked him with a contented sigh as he met her gaze.

"I just speak from the heart, cyri'ka," he told her with a grin, to which she snorted and shook her head, a smile forming on her lips.

"Cheesy, but it works for you."

A/N: And there you have it! Chapters 7 and 8 will be released side-by-side as a two-part special like in previous stories for this series, so keep an eye out for those. That said, my Teen Titans story will be updated first, so expect that new chapter to come before the end of the week. Once again a most sincere thank you to all of you as well as my beta reader, WikkedGrin. Until the next time and as always, safe journeys to all! :)

Update: Work on Chapters 7 and 8 is coming along. Both should be ready sometime early in July.