Star Wars Rebels: Starcross

"The Force is an energy field that surrounds and penetrates us; it binds the Galaxy together." Quoted from Obi Wan Kenobi, Days of the Empire.

The Beginning:

Ezra knelt on a small knoll, meditating. He initially felt lost without Kanan to help guide him, but now he was certain of what he needed to do and how he was going to do it. Lothal needed to be freed from the Empire if it was going to survive. He had spoken to the image of his parents, telling them that he was fearful of what he might be called on to do. He knew that he was now a Jedi, he had undergone his trial and now he needed to face another. He also knew that soon he would probably never see Sabine again. He had so much he wanted to say to her so he made two recordings one for Sabine that she would have to locate to see it and one that addressed all of his family. Smiling he stood when Sabine approached and told him it was almost time. Governor Pyrce was being escorted to the Gunship.

The Chimaera:

"To Die for one's people is a great Sacrifice. To live for One's people, an even greater sacrifice, I choose to live for my people." Quoted from Riyo Chuchi.

Using the Force, Ezra wrapped Thrawn within the Tentacles of the Purgill. He knew that soon the Purgills would jump into Hyperspace taking the mighty Star Destroyer with them. It was the plan, Ezra knew there was no possible way for him to escape and join his friends. In truth he did not want to, now that the Emperor knew that Ezra was on Lothal. He was certain now the Emperor would never stop trying to either turn him or kill him. He could not risk the lives of his friends. But he also did not want to travel to wherever the Purgills were going to take the Imperials. So he had to be ready, one of the Purgills reached in and snaked its Tentacles around him and pulled him off the ship. Using the last of his focus and strength, he levitated one of the Stormtrooper Helmets to him. Putting it on his head as he was pulled through the View Port, grasped within the Tentacles. This Purgill would not join the others, it was heading elsewhere. Ezra had connected with the mighty space whale and directed it where to take him. As he slowly passed out, he watched as the Huge Beasts dragged the Chimaera away. Darkness overtook him and he slipped in unconsciousness.

Awakening several hours later, he was where he wanted to be. The Purgill had dropped him off and left. Flinging the Helmet off his head, he exhaled. The dry air of Tantooine filled his lungs as he felt the excessive heat of the desert. To the east was Mos Eisley Spaceport and major hub for the planet. Smiling he began the long walk. Ezra knew that Obi-Wan Kenobi was no longer on Tantooine but Ezra did not come to see him, this was just a layover to a place that he suspected no one would know him or think to look for him here. That was his plan from the beginning, though he had considered telling Sabine in hopes that she would finally succumb to his subtle advances. He would miss her, but in the context of what he was about to do he had decided not to risk the chance that she would somehow talk him out of it. This was his decision and his choice; he had no plans on being an exalted hero for the populace of Lothal to pander over. No he needed to disappear into obscurity, if that was possible for a Jedi. Which he doubted. Whipping the sweat of his forehead, he entered the outskirts of Mos Eisley heading for the Space Port Tavern. It was a hole in the wall place, unlike the clean Jho's on Lothal. But it did have the sort he was looking for; Smugglers and Fringe Scum that would not ask too many questions. Trying to remain under everyone's curiosity was the hardest part, he was not dressed as one of the residents of Tantooine and he did not look like the normal Spacer. Stepping up to the Bar he asked for a local Ale, received it and went to a dark corner. He needed to locate the right person or group so he could continue to hide in plain sight. He had other objectives and the top one was to secretly build himself a new Lightsaber. But that would have to wait until he was alone. Glancing around the small room, he saw a mixture of races and species. Humans, Rodian's, Ithorians and others he did not know. His eyes locked onto a small group of Humans in a corner drinking and celebrating. He watched the group for several minutes, wondering how he could somehow approach the group and inquire if they could transport him off Tantooine.

"Do you find interest in my crew?" A man asked from behind Ezra, making him turn to see the tall thin man. The man had dark hair, beard and mustache. His tone was collected and measured. Standing besides the man was another who kept to the shadows and Ezra knew that he had a blaster drawn and pointed at him.

"No, not really. I was about to see if I could barter my way off Tantooine. That is if they have a ship and needed a valuable crewmember." Ezra said to the man who smiled and sat.

"That might be arranged, depending on what type of man you are and what you can do." The man said as he looked at Ezra.

Ezra could tell this man was collecting information about him, by just looking him over. "I am Raze Ridger, just someone that wants to travel and see the Galaxy." Ezra smirked, he had thought about a way to change his name but somehow keep it simple enough to remember. "I can fly most styles of Freighters, Shuttles and certain fighters."

"I would have to test you on those to make sure. I am Talon Karrde, I might be interested in hiring you on if you test high enough." Talon said as he smiled at Ezra, nodding his head. Then turning to the man behind him. "Go on Aves, I am certain that Raze is harmless. Especially since he does not even have a blaster." Not watching as Aves shrugged and joined the others. "If you will come with me, we will test you and see if your claims are accurate." Standing he led Ezra towards his ship. Once inside and at the simulator, Karrde was impressed. "Not bad Raze."

"I got lucky in that I have been exposed to learning to fly different ships. Do not ask me to calculate a Hyperspace Vector by hand, I am not that good with math." Ezra said to Talon as the older man chuckled.

"Neither am I. I usually let the computer do that or someone smart enough to do the calculations by hand." Talon leaned back and glanced Ezra over then nodded. "I think we can come up with an arrangement." Pulling a contract out of his desk. "This is just a formality, I require you to sign as a crewman on my Ship or one of my ships that is, for one year and I will pay you appropriate rates. Deal?"

Sighing Ezra shrugged. "Okay, why not." Then subtly Ezra smiled, this was just what he needed. He could tell from observing Talon and his crew, that they were smugglers and it was perfect. Most smugglers did not ask a lot of questions and were secretive. Signing with the anagram of his real name, he became a member of Talon Karrde's smugglers. Deciding that it would only be for a year, he needed to keep moving if he was going to stay hidden.

Lothal: First Destruction of the Death Star

Sabine, Hera and Zeb spent most of the last month formulating an adequate defense against the impending return of the Empire. To Sabine dismay and disappointment she noticed that there was not a lot of resources to call upon. Seven of the New TIE Interceptors were functional, but did not have hyperdrives. She had also located a small number of Pre-Empire X-Wing Fighters and one Corvette Cruiser. That was it for defenses. The only other resource was a couple of Turbo Cannons that the Empire had deserted. Sabine reported that to Hera and told her that if One Star Destroyer showed up. There was a chance they could drive it away. Leaving Hera and Rex to discuss the problem, Sabine went to her quarters. She was amazed, during that she had not thought about Ezra for twenty minutes. Now alone that was all she could think about. She was upset with herself; she knew that Ezra cared about her. Even possibly loved her and she had not done anything to encourage or formalize a relationship with him. Now that he was no longer around, she missed him drastically. The small smiles he gave her, the times that they spent together and the friendship they had. She wished that he had somehow not sacrificed himself for Lothal and remained. She also wished that she had not let him go, even though there was no other option at the time. Time was the enemy to her, she always believed she had time to form a relationship with him and then he was gone and her delays had cost her that chance. Picking up his Lightsaber she grimaced. Removing the bottom of the weapon, she peered at the tracer that she had placed in it. Wondering why she had not put other tracers on him so that she could know where he was or even know if he was alive. The door to her room chimed and she put the Lightsaber back in the drawer. "Yes who is it?" She asked as she moved over to unlock the door, seeing Zeb standing in the doorway.

"Hera needs you, we have some volunteers that need to be interviewed. One of them states he has a Ship that we can add to the defense." Zeb stated as the Lasat exhaled and looked at her with concern. "Thinking about the kid again?"

"Yes, I should never have let him go." Sabine replied as she forced back the sadness that she felt.

"Yeah, I have had the same thought. If only I kept my eyes on him, he would never have sneaked off like he did." Zeb hunched his shoulders and frowned. Feeling that he had not only failed Ezra but Kanan.

"It was not your fault, Zeb. I distracted everyone so he could go. I believed he would somehow escape and come back to us, to me." Sabine exhaled then squared her shoulders. "Alright let's go see these volunteers and the ship." Following Zeb she reached up to wipe two tears from her eyes. Ezra told her that he could always count on her, but in truth he could not. She had failed him.

The Wild Karrde: Bespin

"I've found that what most people call Luck is often little more than Raw Talent combined with ability to make the most of opportunities." Quoted from Talon Karrde.

Standing on the Landing Port of Cloud City, Ezra looked out at the vastness of open sky. It was a good thing he was not afraid of heights as he stared down at the clouds below. Another man stood next to him. Aves.

"Geez kid, you are beyond lucky." Aves stated as he shook his head. "That Bothan wanted to gut you like a day old fish."

"Naw, he was just angry that I did not let him steal the cargo instead of paying for it." Ezra said nonchalantly as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah well you just got lucky that the crate fell on him when he pulled his blaster, otherwise you would have been shot down before you could blink." Aves said as he looked over at the Bothan. Karrde was glaring down at the Bothan with his blaster pointed between the furry eyes, ready to shoot the crook for trying to kill one of his people.

"Yeah Lucky." Ezra said then returned to look out at the sky. Knowing it was not luck, when the Bothan pulled the blaster Ezra used the Force to pluck a large crate off the shelf and drop it on the unsuspecting Bothan. He silently cursed himself, doing things like that could draw unwanted attention from those that hunted Jedi and that was not something that Ezra needed right now. Of course he was ready for such a situation, a brand new Lightsaber was hidden within his belt ready for him to put it together and fight if necessary. As he watched the clouds his thoughts went to Sabine, he missed her drastically. He exhaled as he smelled the cool air of Cloud City. Then as he was about to turn he saw someone that he had not expected to see, Lando Calrissian. "Kalabash!" Ezra whispered as he spun away hoping that the Gambler had not seen him.

"Hey Karrde, what is going on?" Lando asked as he walked up to the scene Karrde pointing a blaster at a Light Brown Bothan that knelt with his hands clasped together pleading for forgiveness.

"This piece of slime tried to kill one of my people and steal the cargo I ran for him. I am negotiating with him to cover what he owes me for doing this." Talon smiled as he glanced over at Lando.

"Well don't shoot him, Giu'nafal Fey'lya is one of my best customers." Lando stated smirking at the Bothan.

"Unless he pays me twice the costs he is going to be one of your best dead customers. That is the penalty for trying to kill one of my people!" Talon said angrily as he pushed the barrel of his Blaster harder against Glu'nafal's forehead. "Agreed?"

"Yes, oh yes. I will pay." Fey'lya replied quickly as he reached into his pouch and pulled out a handful of credits. Counting out Twenty Thousand Credit chips and handing them towards Talon.

Talon took the money and put his blaster away. "Do not ever contact me for Cargo again. Find someone else to cheat, Glu'nafal. Now get." Giving the Bothan a light kick and watching as the furry Bothan ran off.

"Getting kind of soft in your old age." Lando smirked as he also watched the Bothan speed away on foot. "So who was it that he tried to rob and kill? Not Faughn was it?"

"No not Faughn, and she still does not like you." Talon answered as he shook his head negatively.

"I do not know why not? I am a gentleman and she is quite a lady. So who was it?' Lando asked looking around to see who was on the Landing Dock.

"A new employee, Raze Ridger is his name. I lucked upon him on Tantooine, he is an exceptional pilot and is good in any tense situation." Glancing around himself he did not see Raze. "Hey Aves where did Raze wonder off to?"

"Well Chief he was hear a minute ago. He must have gone back to the Wild Karrde." Aves shrugged and walked over to join Talon and Lando. "Do you want me to go look for him."

"No that is alright, knowing Lando he would try to hire him away from me." Talon said as he peered over at Lando who smiled wickedly.

"Well yes I would if he is as good as you state. Since you are here perhaps you would like to take on a certain shipment for me." Lando started to talk and led Talon back into the City to discuss fees and the Cargo that would be sent.

Ezra almost ran to the Wild Karrde. "Phew that was close." He said as he ducked on board. He knew that Lando might have identified him and his secret would have been exposed. If Lando remembered him that is, which he doubted. At that time when he had met Lando, Ezra looked different and Lando was too busy trying to swindle Hera and Kanan. While at the same time trying to get into Sabine's pants. With flattery and knowledge of art. Of course Sabine saw right through Lando's motives and shot him down. Ezra often wondered if Sabine knew that he cared about her and secretly loved her. He still did and when he thought about Sabine regrets and other emotions flooded into him. The major one was that he missed her a lot. He missed her warm smile and her intelligence. He especially missed how beautiful she was. She could be sweating and covered with dirt and she somehow made it look endearing and lovely. Exhaling he went to his shared cabin and laid down on his rack. Debating with himself about sending an anonymous message to Sabine just so he could contact her to let her know that he was alive and well. But doing that would expose him, he doubted she would be able to keep it a secret. Or she would and probably come looking for him. He suddenly felt tired and wanted to sleep and dream about Sabine.

Talon spent an hour negotiating with Lando for the Cost of smuggling the Cargo past the Imperials to the awaiting Customers on Ord Mantell. Talon thought it funny that Lando kept complaining that it was too much and that Talon was overcharging him. Afterwards Talon returned to the Wild Karrde, he had questions he wanted to ask Raze and he wanted answers. Mainly on how Lucky the young man had been when Giu'nafal Fey'lya had the accident with a thirty pound Cargo container that happened to fall on him right after he pulled a blaster on Raze. That kind of luck was unheard or unseen in all the years Talon had been a smuggler.

Lothal: No Show No Return

Sabine felt impatient, as she used the Ghost's sensors to scan out into space one more time. "Where are they? This is weird, we kicked the Imperials off Lothal four months ago and they still have not come and kicked our asses yet."

"I am not complaining Sabine. The more time they give us the more time we can gather our forces to stop them." Hera said as she changed their heading to scan a different incoming vector. Smiling as she flew past two Nebula Class Frigates that had come to help defend Lothal. "If they keep delaying we might actually stand a chance."

"Well it is just strange, you would think that they would at least send a threatening communication demanding that we surrender." Sabine said in frustration. She wanted them to attack and get it over with so she could soon begin looking for Ezra. Until it happens she was stuck on Lothal waiting.

"Perhaps the destruction of the Death Star has them feeling a little reluctant on sending an attack force here to Lothal." Kallus said as he leaned forward to look out past Hera.

"I just wish they would come and get it over with, I have other things to do!" Sabine exhaled and shook her head and both Kallus and Hera knew what Sabine wanted to do other than waiting to fight the Imperials.

"As soon as we can, we all will go look for him. I promise." Hera said as she changed the Ghost's vector again. Still nothing.

"I miss him so much. It feels like a piece of my heart is missing and without him I feel empty." Sabine frowned and considered just leaving Lothal and begin searching for Ezra now instead of later. Yawning she stretched her arms upward. "I am exhausted, I think I will go take a nap." Standing she made her way back to her room, laying down to dream of Ezra.

To be continued..