Chapter 8

Flashback

"When I saved Hera using the force, she said we had to leave fast because someone might have seen my feat. I think there's a high chance that someone might have. They may have even tracked us here. If you please, I'd like you and your warriors to secretly follow us to the port. If we are accosted, you can suprise them and force them to back down. Oh, and we should use a decoy. Like put a piece of bread in a cloth and pretend it's me."

Bo- Katan knelt down to Ezra Bridger's level, and put her hands on his shoulder. She grinned at him.

" That is a very clever plan, my boy. We need geniuses like you in our ranks. Which is why I hope you'll accept my offer. Sure, I'll be happy to aide you against your potential pursuers."

Ezra was delighted at the Mandalorian's response. So much so, that he wrapped his arms tightly around her neck. Bo went stiff as a statue. She couldn't remember the last time someone hugged her. Her clan definitely wasn't the sentimental type. Soon though, she smiled, put her arms around him and stood up.

"Ahsoka, you and Hera go to the market and buy a cloth and some bread. Ezra will stay with us, while we watch your back", she informed the two alien women.

"Sure thing, Bo", Ahsoka responded enthusiastically. Hera had a hesitant look on her face, which the other women present noticed.

"Ezra had faith in you, and you in him, when you two first met. Surely you can have faith in us, can't you Hera Syndulla?", the successor of Pre Vizla asked.

Unable to argue with the Mandalorian's excellent point, Hera put aside her anxiety, and said with a smile, "Yes I can. Let's go Ahsoka." As the two walked away, Ezra bid them goodbye and waved, to which they responded in kind.

Picking up her com-link, Bo Katan announced to her followers that they had a special mission and to suit up.

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Boba Fett, Dengar, Zuckuss and 4-Lom, IG-88 B, and Bossk were all handcuffed by the Nite Owls. Bo Katan put the blue-haired orphan on her back on the ground in front of her. Taking off her helmet, Bo Katan said, "Your plan worked with a charm, my boy Ezra. I'm a bit suprised that these guys fell for it."

All the Bounty hunters glared daggers at the leader of the Nite Owls. Due to his helmet, Boba's glare couldn't be seen, but it sure as hell could be felt.

"So, what should be done with these Bounty hunters, Ezra", Bo Katan fondly asked her young compatriot.

"You're letting me decide?!", the Bridger boy asked in an incredulous tone of voice. His Mandalorian benefactor nodded and said , "Your plan, your decision." Ezra observed the men, feeling their complete and utter contempt for him and his comrades. It would be very easy to kill them right now and end any potential threat to himself, his caretakers, and his new Mandalorian allies. But easy wasn't the same thing as right. Killing unarmed opponents who had surrendered was definitely wrong. Ezra had to think of another solution.

" Take them somewhere where they can't hurt any of us, or any other rebels or Jedi. But keep them alive."

"I thought that that would be your decision," Bo Katan responded. " You're noble good hearted and heroic, just like the Jedi"

Ezra thanked Bo for her compliment, then she ordered her warriors to take the Bounty hunters away.

"Goodbye, Mr Bridger, Ms. Ahsoka, Ms. Syndulla. I'll be back tomorrow to hear if you'll be staying with your guardians, or taking me on as a new one", Bo said hopefully, and then, without further ado blasted off into the air with the rest of her loyal army.

'This won't be an easy decision' the son of Mira and Ephraim Bridger said to himself. But I know that Ahsoka and Hera will back me up. Grabbing the two females hands, which suprised the two of them, he walked back into the Ghost.

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Hera was sitting in the cockpit with Ahsoka, while Ezra and Chopper played Sabacc in the common room. Ahsoka was comforting Hera, who was anxious about what decision Ezra would make. She wondered if she had what it too, to become a Mandalorian, should Ezra decide to stay on the planet with Bo Katan. She also worried about the Empire finding out about her baby boy's abilities and sending their deadly agents after them. While still on Alderaan, the red-skinned togruta had told her of Palpatine's deadly Inquisitors, and her own encounter with one. They were Dark Jedi, meaning they followed the dark side, but weren't fully indoctrinated into the Order of the Sith Lords. This was in keeping with the Rule of Two. While deadly, they had one major weakness; they were trained to focus exclusively on offense. To keep attacking, relentlessly. This left there defense severely lacking. She had managed to actually kill an Inquistor, the Sixth brother, and take his lightsaber crystals and purify them, causing them to turn white. And it was all due to him being unable to keep up his guard. Hera shuddered to think about what would happen if those monsters got their hands on her new charge. Ahsoka promised the twi'lek captain that she would die before she let anything happen to either of them. Hera gave her new friend and crewmate a thankful hug.

That night after eating dinner, bantha burgers to be exact, Ezra went to his bedroom early, and asked not to be tucked in by Ahsoka or Hera. He needed alone time to think about the offer of Bo Katan Kryze. Honestly, he wished their was some way to have the best of both worlds, and become a Jedi and Mandalorian. But he knew that a long-running feud like this one couldn't be overlooked, simply because he was a child. And there was no way his young cute self could convince the two parties to abandon hostilities. As miss Kryze had said, they would tolerate Jedi fighting with them, but not becoming apart of their clans. One positive thing about this dilemma was that Ahsoka and Hera would stay with him no matter what. If he chose to be a Mandalorian, he wouldn't have to worry about losing them. Though he wondered how Hera would wear a Mandolorian helmet due to her lekku.

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If one was standing on the surface of Dathomir, one would have seen a Republic Era clone trooper gunship appear through the red sky. The ship landed in between the skeleton-like trees. The doors opened, and four fuming Bounty hunters were pushed out onto the red ground.

"There are no ships here boys, and no reason for any vessel to come here. Especially since this is the Nightsister Planet. The few who have come here, including Palpatine, fear those witches so much that they've made sure to prevent any way for them to get off the planet. Even after Grievous killed them all they still fear their Ghosts. You five aren't going anywhere anytime soon", Magdalene triumphantly explained to the ruthless mercenaries. Without another word, the clone gunship door shut and the ship took off leaving the Bounty Hunter's Guild burning with rage. Magdalene radioed Bo and informed her of the successful "drop". Her lady congratulated her.

Unbeknownst to either party, on Nal Hutta, the criminals paradise, an all too familiar red-skinned black- tattooed Zabrak with a black cloak sat mediating in his ship. He had taken it from a foolish thug who tried to rob him, and was promptly squashed like the bug he was. It looked like a bunch of metal balls grouped together. Opening his eyes Maul said, "Some persons have been dumped on my home world. I must investigate."

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Ezra hadn't been able to sleep the whole night, due to his restless mind. When the sun came up, Ezra got up out of bed and walked to the cockpit. He did so quietly, so as to not wake the togruta and twi'lek who both treated him like he was their son. When he got to the cockpit, he pressed the button for the roof hatch. With great agility he leapt on the back of the of the pilot chair, and flipped toward the opened hatch. Hauling himself on top of the Ghost, he watch the magnificent Sunrise. It was a good thing the port was outside the city dome, he couldn't have seen it otherwise.

"It's amazing isn't it!", a vocie said, making the blue-haired boy jump. He looked westward and saw Bo-Katan with her helmet on standing on a ship two rows down. She ignited her jet- pack and flew through the air, landing on the Ghost roof right next him. "I couldn't wait to hear you decision, so I decided to pay you an early visit" , the female warrior explained. "Also I wanted to give you a gift", she continued.

"What gift?"

"This gift."

The sound of a jet pack filled the air, and. Ezra saw another helmeted Mandalorian fly up and land on a ship. She was carrying a lime colored blanket, which she then dropped. Bo Katan unraveled it, revealing fiery orange and ocean blue Mandalorian armor. The area that bordered the t- shaped visor was blue. As were the fingers and hand area. The elbow guards and knee pads were the final blue-painted areas, everything else was orange. eyes nearly bugged out of his sockets.

"Before you ask, even if you don't decide to join us, this armor will stil bee yours. You deserve it for being such a mentally and physically strong man, Mr. Bridger."

Ezra fought back tears of joy, and threw himself at Pre Vizla's right hand woman. He bounced like a wallaby into her arms and chest .

"Thank you so much Bo!"

"You're welcome Ezra. Now have you decided on my offer yet?"

Pulling back from her but still hanging on, he looked at her in the eyes and said firmly, "Yes, I have!"

Cliffhanger! Sorry. Thinking up the next chapter isn't easy, especially when you know you're not a fast Typer. I'll try not to take as long to update next time.