PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS STORY IS NOW RATED M FOR VIOLENCE

Chapter Six

2 BBY. Abandoned Industrial District, Taris

When Sabine looked up, she could barely see the windows through her swollen eyes. Night had fallen, and Taris' four moons stared at her, as though they were two pairs of yellow, evil eyes. Sith eyes. Ezra's eyes, only this afternoon.

Ezra still clung to her, silent and still. She could barely feel his breath against her skin, and his own skin, so familiar to her, felt icy. Sabine could not even imagine what was going through his mind, what sort of thoughts were weighing his conscience.

"Ezra?" Sabine whispered, and Ezra stirred. He lifted his head from her breast, his face nearly as pale as Grey's body, which still lay in the center of the room. "Stay here. I'll be back in a moment," she said, pressing a rough, dry kiss against his cold forehead. Sabine stood, her head throbbing, and hurried out of the room, in search of Alpha Squad.

Shortly, she found them in a trembling pile at the end of one of the lonely hallways. "Soldiers," she said, in a husky, broken voice. She cleared her throat, trying to draw strength for them. They looked up, barely acknowledging her presence. Smith's face looked haggard, while Greer's steely gaze had softened to a weak glance. Leia scared Sabine the most, though.

She expected the Princess to be in a broken, agonized state, not unlike Ezra, but that was not the case. Leia was seething, her eyes flickering with wild intensity. "Did you kill Bridger?" Leia demanded, almost savagely.

"He's still our Commander, young one," Smith croaked.

"He's not my commander! I will not serve under a murderous bastard!" Leia screamed, standing. Her cry split the air, which had been wretched and stagnant, but was now alive and swirling with emotion.

"She's right," Sabine responded, "He is no longer your Commander. Ezra has been compromised, and is unfit to lead. He's under the influence of an evil entity. You all have probably figured that out by now. Acting on his own, he never would have killed Grey."

"Are you sure?" Greer asked, "With all due respect, the Commander has always been a mysterious one."

"I know Ezra," Sabine said, "I've know him since before the Rebellion began. That wasn't him. It couldn't be him."

"You love him, don't you?" Smith asked gently, in a way that made Sabine's heart ache.

She nodded. "Which is why I'm stepping down as General. I've been emotionally compromised, and I'm unfit to lead as well. I'm not choosing him over you. You all need to leave this place, but I can't leave a man behind." As she spoke, Sabine couldn't help but feel that she was speaking to herself more than her crew, trying to justify what she was about to do. "Leia is now your leader." A strange mix of relief and regret flooded Sabine after she said those words. Stepping down as General was one of her worst nightmares, an unlikely scenario that she had only played out during her darkest nights.

At her announcement, fear flashed in Leia's eyes, but she squared her shoulders. "I'll do my best," she said staunchly.

"That's what I expect," Sabine said, "Return to the base. Tell them what has happened here, and make sure Master Tano is present at the briefing. She'll know what to do."

The others stood, nodding at Sabine. "Lead the way, General," Smith said to Leia.

"May the Force be with you," Sabine added, thinking it would somehow bring them luck.

To her surprise, Leia glanced over her shoulder at Sabine, responding with a solemn, "And with you."

After they left, Sabine hurried back to the great room. The floorboards were slick with blood, and glass crunched beneath her boots. Ezra was crouched over Grey, his face in his heads, his back trembling.

"Ezra," Sabine called, "Get up. We're leaving."

He looked up, and in a ghost of a voice, responded, "But I can't."

"Maybe, but we'll go as far as we can," she said desperately, holding out her hand. Ezra didn't take it.

"You should go, Sabine. Take Alpha Squad and leave me here."

"They're already gone," Sabine said, "Now, come on."

"Can't you see what I've done?" Ezra asked, "Who says I won't do the same to you as I've done to Grey? I couldn't live with myself. I'd rather be stuck here a thousand years than lay a hand on you. Now, go."

"I'm not leaving you," Sabine said, desperation welling in her chest, "We'll fight together, and we'll find a way to save you. Please."

"Even if that does happen, I can't ever go back," Ezra said, "They won't take me back, nor should they."

"Then we'll disappear together!" Sabine cried, "I'll follow you anywhere. Anywhere. We'll find our own corner of the galaxy, away from everything and everyone. Just you and me. Please."

Her declaration of solidarity must have reached him, and Ezra nodded slowly, taking Sabine's hand. She helped him to his feet, and they made their way out of the room. As they walked, glass cracking underfoot and labored breathing combined to create a eerie chorus. Ezra kept glancing over his shoulder, and Sabine unconsciously fed off of his nervous energy. Her anxiety grew with his until they clung to each others' hands with crushing strength. Sabine couldn't shake a sense of vulnerability, and chills began at the top of her shoulders and trickled down her back like cold water.

"Where are we going?" Ezra whispered, stopping halfway down a shadowy hallway.

"As close as we can get to the outside of this place," Sabine said, eyes flicking around the hallway. It closed in around them like a coffin, dark and stifling. Once this parallel occurred to Sabine, it was impossible for her to shake. Even the air smelled of death, and it felt like hundreds of clammy fingertips brushing her face. No, not her face: Her back. A large hand was resting between her shoulder blades. She expected to turn around to see some macabre parody of Kanan, with gaping holes for eyes and skin discolored with mold and decay. A cry welled up in her chest, and tore its way between her lips.

"Sabine, it's just me," Ezra responded, sliding his hand up and down her spine.

"I'm sorry," She responded, breathing tiny, hysterical breaths, "I'm sorry, I thought you were Kanan."

"He's not Kanan," Ezra whispered.

"I know," Sabine breathed. At the mention of 'him', the air went from sluggish and clammy to electric and frigid. A rush of wind blew down the tunnel, moaning like a ghost. A jolt went through Sabine, which spurred her legs into a run, while she still held tightly to Ezra. Hands plucked at her hair and nipped at her heels, and spectral screams assaulted her ears. Eyes leered at her from all sides, as bright as the hallway was dark. Beside her, Ezra bent low, as though invisible airborne creatures were diving at his skull. They ran, hearts beating wildly, until the reached the final doorway at the end of the hallway. Sabine pried the door open, pulled Ezra in and slammed it behind her. She sunk to the ground, back against the door, gasping for air.

"Are you alright?" Ezra asked. Sabine nodded, and Ezra responded, "Jam the door if you can, but I think we're alright in here. It feels safer."

"Safer," Sabine echoed, still panting from their run. She patted her hip, and felt both her blaster and Ezra's lightsaber. But what good could these weapons do against a spirit?

Somehow, I don't think so, Sabine thought.

Huddled in the furthest corner of the empty room, Ezra and Sabine held one another. Her head tucked beneath his chin, Ezra wrapped his arms around her in an effort to make her somehow feel safe. But he knew this was little more than an illusion: he couldn't protect her, anymore than he could protect himself. Both of the young lovers were entirely at the mercy of the entity.

"Who do you think he is?" Sabine whispered, breath tickling the hollow of his throat.

"I know. I saw, when I opened the holocron," Ezra responded, "It seems the story that 'Kanan' told about the ex-Jedi is true. It's his holocron, and I believe he's the one that took control of me. He was killed here by another Jedi. I saw it. She killed him in the attic. That's why it's burnt, he used Force lightening to try to defeat her."

"So, he's a Sith, then?" Sabine guessed, "I remember you mentioning that the Jedi don't use lightening."

Ezra nodded. "I guess. We can't be sure, though."

"What's his name?' Sabine asked. Ezra wasn't sure that he should speak it out loud. It felt as though uttering those two words could bring the already-delicate haven crashing down around them. But Sabine had a right to know. She had the right to know everything; perhaps if he had been more open with her, they could have avoided so much pain.

"His name is… Kylo Ren." Ezra waited, holding his breath, but nothing happened. The air was still unmoving, thunder still rumbled in the distance, Sabine's heart still beat beside his own; the atmosphere was entirely unchanged.

Oblivious to his fear, Sabine responded, "So, the Jedi Knight was able to defeat him, right?"

"Yes," Ezra replied, "But this Jedi Knight, T'ra Saa, was far more powerful than I. And she only defeated his body. We have to deal with his spirit.

"I have an idea," Sabine said, "It's based on a theory, but I think it may work."

"What is it?" Ezra asked, a fragile, fluttering ghost of hope rising in his chest.

"I believe that Kylo Ren's spirit must be anchored to something here, like the holocron. So, I say we burn the damn attic with the holocron in it. It's a weak plan, but it may be all we have at the moment."

Ezra fell silent, thinking it over. "It's worth a try," he responded half-heartedly.

"Tomorrow, then," Sabine said, with the determination that was usually only heard from General Wren. The side of her that she reserved for him was softer, more peaceful. The General, the Artist, the Lover, the Rebel. He loved every side of her. It was aching, worshipful love, enslaving his heart to hers.

Just as Kylo Ren's spirit is bound to this place, mine is tied to her. The thought occurred to Ezra: If something happened to Sabine, what would happen to him? Would his spirit evaporate like water, leaving his body an empty shell? A shell that Kylo Ren could easily take as his own?

He's going to go after her. I'm sure of it. Wild fear gripped Ezra's heart, and he tightened his hold around Sabine, who had fallen asleep. Along with the fear, dark, brooding anger began to well in his chest. I'm going to destroy him. I vow it. With that resolution, Ezra fell asleep.

…The edges of his sight crackled red and black, bright currents of energy. The scene in front of him was hazy with smoke, but he was able to make out the attic. Sabine was in the center of the room, crouching beside the holocron. It's jagged edges glittered deceivingly in the grayish light, as if to taunt him. "Are you ready?" Sabine asked, rubbing her hands together nervously.

"Do it," Ezra said, with an intense gaze and taut shoulders. Sabine nodded, striking a match and holding it above the holocron. As she released it, it was like time slowed, and his vision pulsed black and red. The flame wafted down toward the evil object, and Ezra heard his heart beating, thump…thump…thump…

In an instant, the entire attic lit up in a searing, bright, scorching blaze. Sabine scrambled back, until she was beside him. She glanced up with searching eyes. "Well?" She asked him. Thunder crashed, high above the airy ceiling, as if replying to Sabine's question.

But Ezra barely registered the sound. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a dark figure. It was Kylo Ren, wearing the disguise of Kanan. He stalked into the room, grinning in a way that turned Ezra's stomach.

In an instant, Ezra extended his hand, using the Force to call his lightsaber from Sabine's belt to him. He ignited it, and pointed it toward the entity.

"Stop hiding behind Kanan's form and face me," Ezra called.

"Why are you waving around a lightsaber, boy?" The entity responded, "We both know it can do me no harm."

Before giving Ezra a chance to respond, Kylo Ren strode forward, toward Sabine. "But it can do her great harm."

Sabine drew both of her blaster and fired at the Sith point blank, but to no avail. However, she continued to fire until he was upon her. "Don't touch her," Ezra growled, his breathing growing ragged, "Hurt her and I swear, I will kill you."

The entity seemed amused. "Oh, I won't. But you, Ezra Bridger. You will."

"The hell I will," Ezra spat. But even as he uttered these words, he began to feel a floating sensation. Slowly, his legs began to take him nearer to Sabine. He tried to speak, but could not. He could only continue to walk toward his lover, raising his lightsaber slowly.

"Ezra?" Sabine said, and he registered fear in her amber eyes, "What's wrong with you?"

He stood over her, and she scrambled back. But he kicked her feet out from under her, and she fell to the charred floorboards. Now clearly distressed, she cried, "Ezra, please!"

"Do it, boy," Kylo Ren ordered, all the amusement gone from his voice. What remained was cruel, and as sharp as a knife.

"Yes, Master," Ezra replied in a sluggish voice. Presently, he was nearly unaware of what he was involuntarily doing. He suddenly could not remember the identity of the girl lying before him, shaking and crying out his name. But he remembered that she was his enemy, and was to be shown no mercy.

"Ezra, please," The girl said one last time, her voice soft, but sudden calm. She stared up at him, her eyes begging for him to recognize her. But he did not. He only saw an enemy.

He raised his lightsaber, and brought it down with such strength that it killed the girl in one stroke. He dead eyes stared up at him, still begging for mercy.

"Sabine!" Ezra screamed, realization flooding back to him. But it was too late...

"I'm here," Sabine whispered, pushing Ezra's hair off of his forehead soothingly, "Wake up, Ezra."

Ezra opened his eyes, and Sabine's graceful form was leaning over him, the ceiling of the safe room above her. Relief nearly overpowered him, and had to catch his breath.

"You were having a nightmare," Sabine explained. He nodded, and she lay beside him once more.

A nightmare, or a vision?

A/N Hey guys! Sorry for the really long hiatus. I worked all summer at the most soul-sucking food industry job of all time, and had no free time. Sorry again. I hope there are still a few of you who even keep up with this story! Haha! The next chapter of this story will be the final one. Oh, and I have upped the rating. Better safe than sorry, and I figure Sabine's death in Ezra's dream/vision may be disturbing to younger readers. Technically, though, it's no more disturbing than Sabine's death in "Path of the Jedi", or whatever that tripped out episode was called, but I digress. Chapter 7 is on it's way.

P.S. Kylo Ren is the name of the villain in Star Wars VII, for those of you who don't know. ;)