Dedicated to And--here-we-are

     Jedi Knight Kyra Kryze-Kenobi was forced to lie low on Atollon over the next few weeks, her cover having been blown by Imperial Viceroy Gar Saxon when he gave her real name to his superiors. She severed ties and parted ways with the Organas, who expressed surprise at her treason and claimed to have no knowledge of her involvement with the rebels, as they had planned to do since taking Kyra in sixteen years ago. Kyra hoped that she would, one day, be able to reunite with the royal family who had taken her in when she needed them the most. She joined the Spectres for a briefing from Ryder Azadi, who was working with Ezra Bridger and Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus on an undercover mission in the Imperial Armory Complex on Lothal.

     "The factory's on full lockdown. Communication is jammed," Ryder informed them. "I can't reach Ezra and Kanan. The new Imperial in charge is pretty thorough. Didn't catch his name, but I hear he has red eyes."

     "Thrawn," Kyra heard Captain Hera Syndulla mutter to herself.

     "My team will attack the Imperial compound's east gates," Ryder stated. "It's the weakest point, so this Thrawn might expect it. But at least it'll keep his eyes off the factory for a bit."

     At the end of the day, the Phoenix Squadron finally heard back from Ezra and Kanan, who transferred the information they had stolen to Chopper Base. Once Sabine Wren had decrypted the data, she activated a hologram that displayed the blueprints for a new Imperial starfighter.

     "I've never seen an Imperial fighter like that," Hera said quietly. "Sabine, talk to me."

     "Looks like some new kind of TIE interceptor," Wren explained, "but this one has shields."

     Kyra pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, "If they're actually building these in numbers, our pilots, and the Rebellion, won't stand a chance. How'd you get past Thrawn with these plans? Someone's losing more than their job for this."

     "I guess we can thank Agent Kallus," Kanan answered, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "He knew Fulcrum's secret code phrase."

     As Sabine glanced at Kyra, Garazeb Orrelios held up his hands, "Wait, wait, wait. Kallus is Fulcrum? How does that even make sense?"

     Running a hand through her hair, which was now red because she had stopped dying it, Kyra answered his rhetorical question, "I may have accidentally recruited him."

     When the others expressed their disbelief, she gave them a summarized version of when she had been stranded on the icy moon of Geonosis with Kallus.

     When she surmised that the Imperial agent was now their ally, Hera advised, "Still, we'll use caution with our new friend until we're sure we know what game he's playing."

                                                                   ...

     "You wanted to speak with me?" Kyra asked as she walked into Kanan's room aboard the Ghost.

     "I have something to show you," Kanan replied, gesturing for her to sit across from him as he activated the blade of a saber she had not seen in seventeen years.

     When she tried to speak but found she was at a loss for words, Kanan asked, "So you recognize it?"

     After a moment, Kyra nodded, and Kanan handed the ancient weapon to her as she said, "It's the Darksaber, a symbol for the leader of House Vizsla and later, the group known as the Death Watch. Legend tells that it was created over a thousand years ago by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian ever inducted into the Jedi Order. After his passing, the Jedi kept the saber in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. That is, until members of House Vizsla snuck in and liberated it. They used the saber to unify the people and strike down those who would oppose them. One time, they ruled all of Mandalore wielding this blade. This saber is an important symbol to that house and respected by the other clans."

     She ran her fingers along the silver hilt and deactivated the blade, "The Darksaber came into my possession for a brief time after I defeated Darth Maul as a child, but I wasn't aware of what it meant to my people. I lost the weapon, too focused on saving my father than taking the time to recover the weapon. I imagine Sabine was excited to retrieve it."

     Kanan huffed, "You wouldn't know it. After we got back from our mission—"

     "Kanan, I know you went to Dathomir. And I know you went with Maul. Ezra told me everything," she interrupted quietly. "I just wish you would have told me first. It wouldn't have been wise for me to go with you, but I could have at least provided you with intel so you didn't have to go in blind."

     "I would've been going in blind, anyway," Kanan replied with a smirk, and Kyra smacked his shoulder.

     "You know what I mean," she said.

     Kanan chuckled, sobering as he asked, "Did Ezra tell you he found the key to destroying the Sith?"

     Kyra shook her head, "He told me he found the answer, but said you would have a greater understanding of the answer he found."

     Kanan sighed, then explained, "When Maul kidnapped the crew, he sent Ezra and I to find the Sith holocron Ezra had taken from Malachor. When Ezra and Maul connected the Sith holocron with my Jedi holocron, they each saw glimpses of different planets, including this one. But they also saw a desert planet with twin suns, and the Jedi Master that lives there."

     "Tatooine," Kyra whispered. "My father's the key to destroying the Sith."

     Kanan nodded, "Maul doesn't know where Master Kenobi is, which gives us a head start. If Maul finds your father before we do..."

     "There won't be any way to stop the Sith," Kyra answered quietly when Kanan faltered.

     Kyra sighed and looked down at the ancient weapon in her hand, "She doesn't want the responsibility, and I don't blame her. This blade comes with a lot of responsibility for an experienced leader, let alone a nineteen-year-old."

     When Jarrus arched an eyebrow, she explained, "Kanan, if Sabine can wield this saber, she could potentially reunite one of the most powerful houses in all of Mandalore, if not Mandalore itself. What the legends don't tell you is that the clans seem incapable of following one leader. There's always one faction that doesn't agree with who's ruling, even when the others do. When my mother tried a more peaceful approach, her rule only led to another Mandalorian civil war. Gar Saxon forced his way to the throne and has continued to use brute strength to get what he wants, but now Mandalore is being smothered by the Empire."

     "You seem to have given this a great deal of thought. Maybe you should be the one to reunite your people," Kanan suggested.

     "If it would mean taking the weight off Sabine's shoulders, I would," Kyra stated. "But that's not how it works. Should another Mandalorian wish to rule Mandalore, they would have to win the Darksaber in combat. When my aunt and I parted ways, I promised her that I would return with the Darksaber and the means to liberate Mandalore from its Imperial occupation. Eventually, I may be able to keep the last part of my promise, but as of right now, I have no desire to try and rule my people. It's hard enough leading a rebel cell against an Empire. But I will talk to Sabine, get an idea of where her head is. If she does not wish to wield the saber, I will help her find someone worthy of leading our people."

     Kyra stood and took the Darksaber with her as she went to Sabine's quarters, the young artist having painted her entire room in bright colors.

     Kyra found Sabine sitting on the top bunk, and as soon as Wren saw the ancient weapon, she declared, "I won't do it."

     "So you do know what the Darksaber is," Kyra said as she climbed onto the top bunk and sat next to Sabine.

     "I know it caused my family nothing but trouble after Maul took it," Sabine replied.

     "Maul used it to divide and conquer our people," Kyra agreed quietly. "He tore both of our families, and clans, apart. But you can wield the Darksaber to do the opposite. Just know I will not force you to do so. If you want, we can find someone else to wield the blade, but it will take time. Until then, the saber is yours whether you like it or not."

     When Sabine expressed her reluctance to wield the Darksaber, if only temporarily, Kyra said, "I don't think it's a coincidence this saber came into your possession. You may not be able to fight like a Jedi, but I can teach you how to be proficient with the blade."

     "I am proficient, with many types of blades and blasters and explosives," Sabine reminded her, "but this is a lightsaber."

     "The training is not as important as what the blade represents," Kyra replied.

     "Right, right. You want me to lead my clan," Sabine reiterated sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "I don't know if you realize this, but I'm not all that popular with my family these days."

     "Neither am I. But that can change," Kyra stated. "And, as I've already said, I'm not going to force you to lead if you don't want to."

     "You don't know what you're talking about," Sabine claimed.

     "I understand your position better than anyone else," Kyra countered as she placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "I know that family is important to your clan, just like it is to all Mandalorians."

     "I have a family here on this ship. I don't need them," Sabine said.

     "But we do. If there's a chance you can rally an army of warriors to our cause, I have to ask you to do it, at least until we can find someone else," Kyra stated reluctantly. "Family history can be painful. Believe me, I know. But we could use the extra help when the time comes for our attack on Lothal."

     Sabine held Kyra's gaze for a moment, then sighed, "Alright. I'll do it. Just give me the saber."

     When she tried to take the weapon from Kyra, she did not release the weapon, "I need you to listen to me, because this is important. Once people know you have this blade, you will be challenged. Others will try to win this saber from you. You need to be able to defend yourself."

     "Okay. I'll try my best," Sabine assured her, but Kyra refused to give her the Darksaber.

     "First lesson: 'Do, or do not. There is no try,'" Kyra said, quoting Master Yoda.

     Sabine took a deep breath, then nodded, taking the saber when Kyra let go a moment later. That afternoon, Kyra and Sabine hopped into a landspeeder and traveled into Atollon's wilderness.

     "Hey, why can't we just practice back at the base?" Sabine asked as two A-wings flew overhead.

     "It's better out here," Kyra answered. "Fewer distractions. Keeps your mind focused."

     As they set up camp that evening, Sabine admitted, "When you said you were going to train me, I thought there'd be more sword fighting involved."

     Instead of responding, Kyra grabbed a pair of training swords – which were made of wood – and tossed one to Sabine.

     "Before we start with the real thing, I want to see your technique," she explained as they moved to the center of the camp, where the ground was clear of debris.

     Sabine scoffed, "I already know how to fight with a stick."

     Kyra smirked, "Then this should be easy for you."

     Sabine cracked her neck and assumed a fighting stance, gripping the hilt of her weapon while Kyra kept one hand behind her back. When Sabine rushed towards Kyra, she side-stepped and maneuvered around the first two blows before using the Force to knock Wren off her feet.

     Sabine groaned as Kyra said, "That might work on a stormtrooper, but not me."

     Sabine grunted in frustration, grabbing her training saber as she pushed to her feet and charged towards Kyra once more. The more experienced warrior slid out of Sabine's way and pulled the weapon out of her hands before kneeing her in the stomach. She jabbed Sabine in the chest with the hilt of her wooden saber and shoved the young Mandalorian backwards, hitting her on the back of the neck and resting the tip of the blade against Wren's throat.

     "And that's your head," Kyra said matter-of-factly as Sabine sat up, breathing hard. "Every mistake is a limb lost. The blade is never at rest."

     Sabine sighed and got to her feet, "Okay, let's go again."

     Kyra shook her head, "I want to walk you through the different fighting forms first."

     Later, when Kyra was hailed by Hera, she left Sabine to practice the three fighting strokes by herself.

     "It's been a couple of days. I wanted to see how things are going," Hera said.

     "I'm still taking her through the basic forms with the training sabers," Kyra replied.

     "Training sabers? You mean those sticks Kanan and Zeb made?" Hera asked.

     "I'm being careful," Kyra explained.

     "Was your father careful with you?" Hera countered. "Or maybe because she doesn't have the Force you don't think she can do this?"

     "No. The Force resides in all living things," Kyra reminded her. "But you have to be open to it. Sabine is blocked. Her mind is conflicted. She's so expressive and yet so tightly wound. She's so...Mandalorian."

     Hera chuckled, "I'll be sending out supplies. Is there anything specific that you need?"

     "Patience, understanding," Kyra answered jokingly, and Hera laughed again.

     "I'll see what I can do," Hera Syndulla promised, amusement lacing her voice.

     Later that afternoon, Kyra challenged Sabine to another duel, Kryze noticing that her student's skills were improving as they parried. As Fenn Rau and Ezra arrived on their speeder bikes – which were loaded with supplies – Sabine sailed through the air and flew past Kyra, who side-stepped the attack and caused Wren to drop her training saber as she fell to the ground. Sabine turned and tried to stand, but the blade of Kyra's weapon was already pointed at her chest.

     "You over-committed," Rau said, the Protector having found a new set of armor, which was now painted dark blue and yellow.

     "Oh, good. Anyone else have an opinion they want to share?" Sabine asked bitterly.

     "Let's take a break. Ezra, help unload these supplies," Kyra said as Sabine threw her training saber on the ground.

     Kyra helped Ezra unpack the resources that he and Rau had brought, keeping an eye on Fenn as he conversed with Sabine. When Kyra told Sabine that Ezra would be her sparring partner for the next couple of days, Wren challenged the padawan to a duel, showing off her new vambraces. Kyra sighed and shook her head as Ezra accepted the challenge, not realizing what he was getting himself into. They traded several blows before Sabine fired her repulsor and disoriented Ezra, who lost his balance but managed to stay on his feet. They parried a couple of times before Sabine swept Ezra's feet out from under him, pointing the tip of her training saber at his throat.

     "And that's your head," Sabine chuckled, echoing the words Kyra had used during the first duel.

     "Hey! Not fair!" Ezra argued as he pointed at her vambraces. "Where did you get those?"

     "Special delivery," Sabine answered as Rau, who was standing next to Kyra, snickered.

     Kyra marched towards Sabine and asked, "Is this some kind of game to you?"

     "No game, just outsmarting my opponent," Sabine replied arrogantly, her training sword propped on her shoulder. "Care to take a shot?"

     Sabine launched her grappling wire, which wrapped around Kyra and pinned her arms against her side. Kyra ignited her lightsaber and slashed through the wire before grabbing the line and pulling Sabine towards her, letting the blue blade of her weapon hover near the young Mandalorian's throat as she fell in front of her.

     "History lesson: The Jedi won the war with Mandalore," Kyra said fiercely. "These tricks will amount to something, maybe save you from time to time, but they won't keep you alive in the long run. Only training and discipline will do that."

     "The only thing I'm learning is that I must've done something bad to get stuck with a lousy teacher like you," Sabine retorted as she stormed off.

     As Ezra went after Sabine, Kyra's comlink beeped, and she climbed up the ridge before answering it.

     When a small hologram of Kanan appeared, she said, "Teaching Ezra wasn't easy, but you did it well. Care to reveal your secrets?"

     Kanan chuckled, "I'm sure you'll find a way to get through to Sabine."

     "It's not the same," Kyra insisted. "Ezra was eager to learn."

     Kanan smirked, "Sometimes too eager. I was the one holding back."

     "You don't think that's what I'm doing, do you?" Kyra asked. "I mean, I haven't even let her train with the Darksaber yet. I know she's a capable warrior, but she can't—or won't find balance within herself. Until she does, wielding an actual lightsaber is far too dangerous for her."

     "By letting her pretend with that stick, you're only encouraging her not to commit to this," Kanan replied.

     "You're not listening to me," Kyra said frustratedly. "If I let her use the Darksaber, she will get hurt."

     "She's already hurt," Kanan claimed, equally exasperated. "Her family hurt her more than any sword ever could. You, of all people, should know how she feels. You know what it's like when the people you love don't believe in you, when they let you walk away. When she first joined the Spectres, it was hard for her to trust us."

     Kyra took a deep breath, running a hand over her face as she asked, "So what do you want me to do?"

     "Give her the sword," Kanan Jarrus answered. "Let her own it and who she is. Help each other face your demons."

     That night, as Kenobi meditated, she heard Ezra admit, "I didn't think she'd be gone this long. I know she can do it, but it just seems like Kyra is asking her to learn everything at once. She just needs more time."

     "Time is a luxury, one the galaxy seems to be running out of," Rau replied as the two rebels drank blue milk.

     Sabine appeared at Kyra's side a few minutes later, and without opening her eyes, Kryze said, "I owe you an apology."

     She heard Sabine sigh, "I can say the same."

     When Kyra got to her feet and held out the Darksaber, Sabine looked at the ground beneath her feet, "Uh, maybe I should practice more first."

     "Take it. It's yours," Kyra instructed, and Sabine slowly took the saber. "Ignite the blade."

     Sabine did as she was told, moving the weapon back and forth as she expressed her surprise at the weight of the blade.

     "Energy constantly flows through the crystal," Kyra explained. "You're not fighting with a simple blade as much as you are directing a current of power. Your thoughts, your actions, they become energy. They flow through the crystal and become a part of the blade."

     Kyra activated her own lightsaber as she continued, "The blades will be drawn to each other. Block high."

     Kyra brought her saber down towards Sabine, and when she blocked the strike, their blades interlocked and electricity crackled.

     "There's a pull. Can you feel it?" Kyra asked, and Sabine nodded. "That sword is old, heavy, but powerful. Respect its strength."

     When Kyra pulled her lightsaber away, its momentum pulled Sabine and the Darksaber with it, "Block low. High. Middle...high. Low...middle."

     When Sabine blocked each and every one of Kyra's parries, she said, "Good. Let's work on a series. Are you ready?"

     Sabine nodded, and as the two Mandalorians squared up, Kyra added, "We'll start slow. Remember the forms I taught you. Ready position. One...two...three. Four...five...six. Faster. One, two, three, four, five, six."

     The blows came faster and faster, the two women twirling around the camp as their blades collided, Kyra eventually knocking Sabine to the ground.

     "You're making it easy on me," Kyra claimed as Sabine got to her feet, panting. "Ready position."

     The student and teacher circled each other, Kyra still holding one hand behind her back as she suddenly rushed towards Sabine, rapidly counting out the forms as they sparred and parried. When they paused temporarily to catch their breath, Sabine told Kyra that the Darksaber felt lighter in her hands.

     "You're connecting with it. It's becoming a part of you," Kyra told her, nearly pulling the saber out of Sabine's hands when they began to duel once more. "But you cannot solely rely on the blade."

     Sabine yelled and thrusted the blade towards Kyra's stomach, but Kenobi stepped to the side and Wren barreled past her.

     "You must combine all of your skills together. Ready position," Kyra instructed, this time disarming Sabine after trading a few strikes. "You'll have to do better."

     Sabine took a deep breath before firing her grappling wire, which wrapped around the hilt of the Darksaber, and pulled the ancient weapon back to her hand. She ignited the dark blade and charged at Kyra, the duel lasting slightly longer before Kryze landed a grazing blow on Sabine's right vambrace.

     As Sabine swung wide and her momentum caused her to fall, Kyra deactivated her lightsaber, "You're not fighting me, you're fighting yourself...and losing."

     Sabine roared furiously and jumped to her feet, trying to stab Kyra, who skirted around her attack without igniting her lightsaber.

     "You're not committed to this. You should quit," Kyra stated as she continued to dodge Sabine's attack.

     "I don't quit. I never quit!" Sabine shouted angrily.

     Wren sailed through the air, but Kyra ducked beneath her and countered, "Really? That's not what it looks like."

     Knowing she had struck a nerve, Kyra used the Force to shove Sabine away from her as she asked, "You did run, didn't you?"

     "No!" Sabine yelled, tears brimming in her eyes as she aimed the Darksaber at Kyra's chest.

     Kyra grabbed Sabine's wrist as she persisted, "But that's what your people believe, isn't it? You ran from the Empire. You ran from your family."

     "Lies!" Sabine screamed as she pulled away from Kyra.

     "So what's the truth?" Kyra demanded as she finally reactivated her lightsaber.

     "The truth...is that...I left to save everyone. My mother, my father, my brother!" Sabine finally answered, her words punctuated by the sound of electricity as their blades connected.

     Sabine knocked Kyra off her feet, the two continuing to trade blows as Kenobi crawled away from the emotional Mandalorian.

     "Everything I did was for family...for Mandalore!" Sabine explained as Kyra got to her feet and they fought along the top of the ridge, the girl's voice thick with emotion. "I built weapons, terrible weapons, but the Empire used them on Mandalore, on friends, on family. People I knew. They controlled us through fear. Mandalore! Fear of weapons I helped create. I helped enslave our people! I wanted to stop it. I had to stop it. I spoke out! I spoke out to save them. To save everyone!"

     Sabine kicked Kyra in the chest and sent her tumbling down the ridge, Wren leaping off the ledge and landing next to Kryze, whose lightsaber had been knocked out of her hand.

     Sabine loomed over Kyra, poised to strike with the Darksaber in the air as she said, "But when I did...My family didn't stand with me. They chose the Empire. They left me. Gave me no choice."

     Sabine seemed to deflate as she deactivated the black blade and fell to her knees, "The Empire wanted to destroy worlds. And they did. They destroyed mine."

     Kyra sat up after a moment and pulled Sabine into her arms, the teenager seeming much younger than she was as she sobbed and hugged Kenobi fiercely.

     "The Empire rules with fear," Kyra said quietly. "And not everyone can be as strong as you have been. Your family is in a prison, one of their own making. It's up to you to help them out of it."

     "But how?" Sabine whispered. "W-why would they believe me? Why would they follow me?"

     "I know this might not be what you want to hear, but for what it's worth...I would follow you," Kyra replied, kneeling before Sabine Wren.

     "So would I," Fenn Rau stated as he knelt beside Kyra.

     As Ezra Bridger did the same, Kyra Kryze-Kenobi said, "You've come a long way in a very short time. Where you go from here is up to you. But know this family will stand by you no matter what you choose."