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Galaxywon - Blog Posts
“Do I look like the kind of man who dies?“ ( from poe )
“If your flying is really as good as half of the Base makes it out to be, then death shouldn’t even be a concern of ours. Besides-- this mission is supposed to be a piece of cake!”
Still, the shuddering of turbulence gave her reasonable pause. Surely everything would go smoothly on an operation as simple as this...right?
@galaxywon
galaxywon // Hera Syndulla
There was a sick knot in Hera’s stomach, hands dropping from Sabine’s arms as another blast made them duck for cover. She hadn’t even bothered to bring a weapon. At one point in their life, it would have been baffling not to have one on their hip. She imagined it was even worse for their Mandalorian child. “ Good idea. My comm was smashed in the commotion. We’ll have to go to Chopper, tell him to prepare the ship. “ she informed them, eyes scanning the vicinity one more time, hoping for Zeb’s purple fur, Kanan’s tall frame, Ezra’s dark hair. They weren’t there, at least not in her view. “ They should know to evac to The Ghost when they can, when they’ve done all they can do. “ When there’s no one left to save. “ We just have to make sure the ship is prepared. “
The two ducked through the chaos, the eruption of violence continuing its ruinous wake around them. Fires burned in the reflection of Hera’s eyes, and Sabine felt nothing but raw, unfiltered fury, white-hot and burning in their stomach.
“Well, we’d better keep the engine running for them, huh?”
The two of them would see their family again. Sabine had to believe it, had to commit it to memory with every tension of muscle, every kick and thrust and stab and bite. If she had to tear the throats out of every Hapan guard between here and the Ghost, they’d do it. The two of them were going to see their family again, and fuck anything or anyone that stood in the way of a Mandalorian determined.
galaxywon // Hera Syndulla
Oh thank the Force Hera thought, pushing through the pain to meet Sabine, hands automatically going to their upper arms, examining them for any visible signs of injury. Outwardly she looked okay, but that meant nothing right now. “ No-no…. Not since the explosions. “ Kriff, she had just gotten her family whole again. Their stomach was in knots. “ We need to find them. Chop should still be with the ship. We can signal for a pick up when we’re sure everything has calmed down. “ There was that small relief at least. Hera hadn’t trusted her droid not to d something to upset the very unsteady alliance the New Republic had with the Hapans. “ Do you know what happened ? “
_
Fuck, the burns on Hera looked something awful. But they couldn’t focus on that now. Sabine hadn’t found anyone else, and apparently, neither had Hera. They pushed the repulsive thought of what could have happened to them to the back of her mind, focusing instead on the way forward.
“Yeah. Yeah, okay. We make for the shipyard, then we find them.” If they could still be found.
In response to their question, she shook their head no, offering little comment as the two ducked for cover. It was all she could do from letting the dread of yet another lost family from choking them.
galaxywon // Hera Syndulla
Where are they ?? Hera’s heart is racing, the adrenaline pumping through their veins. It’s the only way she’s ignoring the pain all over her body, the fresh burns that had been from the explosions just minutes after midnight. Lekku damaged, tattoos previously there now scattered with marred skin. Had it been minutes ?? she can’t tell, can’t think straight. A flash of purple fabric has them looking closer, voice horse, “ Sabine ?! “ Were the others with them?
.
The voice rang clear and familiar even through the erupted chaos around them. They’d heard that voice in firefights and stealth operations alike, from late night confessions to hurried commands of battle. It sent a renewed wave of strength through her bones, pushed her forward, past the bodies and rubble.
“Buir! Thank fuck you’re alive!” A pause, measuring the damage done to Hera’s lekku, no doubt a result of the flames. “Have you seen anyone else?” The question was vague, but she knew they’d understand. Both needed to know if their family was alive.
galaxywon // Hera Syndulla
“ You’re reckless now. “ Hera reminded them with an affectionate shove of their arms against her own. It was something they all shared. The twi’lek had told herself that it had been necessary. Most of the time she still thought it was. But there were some times, like looking at something brilliant that their son had done, that made her wonder if she would do it again today, leave him in this wide galaxy all on his own. They followed her over to the table, sitting opposite. They sighed. It was easy to get lost in all the things she had done wrong as a parent. Being a mom was hard. Raising a force sensitive child with an ability that they did not have was even harder.
Kanan made it easier, but that didn’t mean it didn’t scare them still. “ You’re right, as always. “ They smiled, reaching to grab Sabine’s hands. “ It’s a mother’s jobs to worry. “ They had worried about the Ghost Crew constantly. Even as they were being thrown into life threatening events in real time. “ My father respected the jedi, worked with them during The Clone Wars. But no one could warn me about how scary it is. “
At the mention of Chopper, their lips quirked up, sitting straighter in the chair. “ I’m running some diagnostics. When the Ghost was on Sernpidal he got banged up. Nothing that he can’t handle though. “ She grinned. “ Don’t let Chopper hear that though. Chaos will come in ten fold. Even as they chatted, it seemed like more was going on than they were saying. It worried her. Sabine could always come to them. They hoped that they knew that everything would be dropped in a second for any member of the crew.
“ What’s on your mind, Sabine ? “
Of course, the compliments brought a smile to her face. They knew they were reckless, and they knew they were quick enough to catch a womp rat in its tracks. Still, to hear it from someone she held so much respect for...
“Vor’e, buir. And, hey. If you worry, it’s because you’re a good parent, Hera. Because you know that this galaxy is so big and dangerous, and you just want to keep him safe from that.”
That’s what she had wanted for their little brother, too. But the choices they’d made had hurt. They’d caused scars and bloodshed, and there was no erasing that. And the question, it pulled at their chest even more, a weight that tore through her lungs and into the pit of their stomach.
Sabine valued every relationship with the Spectres, but with Hera...She had always trusted them with feelings and thoughts that the others wren’t sure how to hold. Somehow, her parent always knew how to hear their child, knew how to make her feel held. And they were grateful for that, truly. It was with that trust that Sabine sighed and leaned forward, head resting on crossed arms.
“You know I don’t want to bring the mood down, ‘specially now that we’re all together again, but...I keep thinking about my family. Well, my other family, on Mandalore.”
There it was, the guilt. The gnawing fear. Sabine knew that Hera understood about having another family (one bound by blood and not bond), but it always felt a little weird to bring them up to her. Still, they had to remind themself to trust the parent that sat before her.
“I don’t know, I keep finding other Mandalorians out there and it’s just. I can’t help but wonder if they’re out there, too. And if they are, why they haven’t tried to...”
But she knew why. Sabine knew why they wouldn’t try. And she didn’t even blame them.
“When I do, y’know, I just feel this pressing guilt, like a weight on my shoulders. Like it’s my f-”
The breath caught in their throat as eyes pricked up with moisture, too warm. Too uncomfortable.
“Anyways. I’m sorry, Hera. I’m not trying to ruin our time together. I just really missed you. I missed this.”
galaxywon // Hera Syndulla
Hera had been able to rely on Sabine when their life had been, even if they didn’t want to admit it, in ruins. They were an amazing role model for Jacen, someone he could both rely on for guidance and adore due to their fun and loving nature. It was hard for her to rely any of that to the Mandalorian, even after years of being together. Affection hadn’t come naturally to her. Even though she wished it did sometimes. “ I don’t know. He’s got Ezra’s trouble making tendencies. “ she smiled affectionately, going to stand next to her, watching the emotions crossing her face as she saw the designs that had accumulated since her last visit. “ He wants to be just like you. “ they informed, her arm wrapping around their shoulders, chuckling. “ If he asks use to borrow your jetpack, say no. “
They fixed a pointed glare towards Sabine, though there was no actual anger in it. It had been one of her hopes, for their son to grow up with values of all of their family. She saw small pieces them all in him. “ He’s been talking with Luke Skywalker, trying to control some of his abilities. “ If only Ezra had been there to teach him. He would be remarkable at it, just like Kanan was once he got his head into it. She was against sending him to the Jedi Temple, and thankfully Luke had respected their choice. Family mattered much more than becoming a fighting for the New Republic.
.
Sabine ran their fingers across the art, old and new, and gave the faintest smile. Hearing her parent talk about Ezra...it brought something of ache to the forefront of their chest, and she knew Hera shared the sentiment. With it, though, was joy (and, even still, a little hope).
“Shit, if he wants to be like me and Ezra, no wonder you’ve got your hands full. But, uh, I don’t know about the jet-pack. I’m sure I was much more reckless at his age.”
They took a seat at the well-worn Dejarik table and rubbed her hand across their neck, taking a moment to reflect on the other’s musings.
“Can’t say I know much more about the Jedi than whatever Kanan and Ezra were up to during our time as a crew, but I trust your judgement. I don’t know anything about Skywalker other than the legends, but I know Kanan. If you’re right about Jacen taking after Ezra, he’ll turn out alright.”
She met the tired eyes of her buir and held their gaze for a moment. They didn’t know how to convey the emotions that were conflicting inside her. Sadness mingled with nostalgia and guilt. It was almost familiar, this cocktail of feelings. Instead, they decided to ask about the unusual silence.
“Speaking of trouble-makers, where’s Chopper? I miss that old war criminal.”
galaxywon // Alexsandr Kallus
Sabine had been Imperial, even though their time had ended much before his own. They knew what it felt like to be forced to adhere to something that took away any case of individuality. But she didn’t know what it felt like to believe it with your whole being. He would have died for The Empire, almost had on multiple occasions. He thought his life was worth something with them, didn’t know true value until he had been challenged to question things. Being an Imperial had been his entire life. It was still his deepest shame. He could tell by the way they analyzed the images that they understood what it meant. “ I fear if I don’t do it soon, I never will. “ he admitted, turning away from them to try to hide some of the emotions passing through his face.
“ I can sit with you while you draw if you’d like. “ It was more for him than it was for Sabine, of course. He wasn’t sure he could sit around and wait for her to be done. “ I have some mission reports I could fill out. “ He knew without trying that he wouldn’t get a thing done while he was waiting for them, but he could pretend. “ Just….. Don’t tell Garazeb about this. Please. “
.
“ I understand.” She replied, though they both knew she couldn’t fully comprehend all he was feeling. Still, they felt the weight that sat on his shoulders. They understood its significance. None of the Spectres blamed Kallus for what he’d done, but Sabine knew that hearing something and believing it were two different things. Gods, did they know that...
“Please, make yourself at home,” she nodded, motioning to the cluttered interior of the ship. Sure, the cabin was a bit of a mess, but they got the feeling her friend wouldn’t mind. Well...maybe he’d mind a little, but the Ghost crew had always been so lovably chaotic. At their’s friend’s next request, though, her smile weakened, and they nodded solemnly.
“Speaking of Zeb,” they asked, already opening the digital art application on her datapad, “can I ask how you two are? You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” they added with a rush, careful to give him the chance to say no if he wanted. “I just know that with the whole time skip shit, everything’s been so...different.” A pause, as she rested stylus on screen. “Have you talked to them since?”