Star Wars Rebels(3)
Chopper rolled forward to a central computer socket. The Ghost’s complicated electronic systems and engines were things he could understand. Organics, on the other hand, tended to say one thing but mean something else.
And they obviously didn’t understand the need for lubrication baths.
A thousand thousand worlds sparkled in the night sky above the capital city of Lothal.
Sabine found the view breathtaking as she scaled the city wall. The galaxy’s Outer Rim was such a big place. So many planets, so many stars, with names like Lasan, Utapau, and Mandalore, her birth world. All teeming with mysteries and diverse species.
She wanted to visit them all. She wanted to have a thousand thousand adventures on those thousand thousand worlds. She wanted her name and her artwork to be known across the stars.
That was impossible with the Empire in control of the galaxy.
The Imperials did everything they could to limit personal freedom, including suppressing creative talent. They cracked down on anyone whose work didn’t glorify the Emperor’s New Order.
Their efforts didn’t frighten her in the least. They only made her want to paint more images that defied the Empire.
No one was going to squash Sabine Wren.
Hard clack-clacks echoed in the street below. Sabine recognized that sound immediately. Imperial stormtroopers.
She tightened her grip and leaned close against the wall she climbed. She must remain unseen. Stormtrooper blasters were hardly ever set to “stun.”
She turned her head for a glance below. Her helmet’s internal display magnified a squad of white-armored stormtroopers surrounding some unlucky bystander. Their commander shoved the bystander to the ground.
“Move along! This is a restricted area,” the commander said, his stern voice filtered through his helmet.
The bystander, a city resident whom Sabine didn’t know, crawled back up and scurried off. The stormtrooper commander then gestured. His squad scanned the streets for other trespassers.
Right as the commander turned toward the wall, Sabine climbed over the ledge. She laid her body flat along the top and waited. One heartbeat. Two heartbeats. Three…
She hoped that if one of the stormtroopers did spot her, he would pause in fear at the sight of her Mandalorian helmet. There were few signs of her people in the galaxy these days other than the notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett, who wore Mandalorian armor. His captures and kills had only helped spread the legend that the Mandalorians were the most fearsome warriors in the galaxy.
One day, maybe her own name would have a similar effect. Sabine Wren. Another Mando you didn’t want to mess with. A great warrior and a great artist.
The sounds of boots echoed again on the pavement and started to fade. The stormtroopers were marching away. Sabine was safe—for the moment.
“Spectre-5 to Ghost,” Sabine whispered into her mic.
Hera’s voice came over her helmet comlink. “This is Ghost. We are in position and awaiting your diversion.”
“Copy that,” said Sabine. “This is going to be fun.” Even if Hera and Kanan weren’t ready, she was. Like any good Mando, Sabine Wren was always ready.
She pushed herself up to stand atop the wall. “Very fun.”
On the other side of the wall lay an Imperial airfield packed full of shiny, factory-new TIE fighters so pristine Sabine could almost smell the fresh paint.
The spotlight from a guard tower rotated her way. She stooped and ran along the top of the wall. The spotlight didn’t catch her before she leapt down off the wall.