AN: And hello again. So, I started working on this piece before the finale. Obviously because Kanan isn't you know…that and all that other stuff hasn't happened yet. This isn't going to be many chapters. Two of three, and I'm not even really referring to them as chapters, but as parts. Here is part one! Please review and let me know what you think and I'll give you part two as soon as possible!

Part One

"Just a Run"

Rural moons weren't really Ezra's thing.

It's not that he had anything against them honestly; he just didn't really like to visit them. They were always swarming with outlaws and the undesirables, not that the crew was any different in the eyes of the empire. But, they weren't outlaws per se. They weren't pirates or traffickers. They were rebels. They were fighting for a cause. Outlaws were fighting for nothing but a quick buck and some bartering.

He hadn't had experience with these types of people until he had boarded the Ghost such a long time ago. He had handle Imperials on Lothal, but these kinds of people…They were a different story. Even different than Hondo really, because Hondo was a pirate yes, but he wasn't ruthless and murderous.

He was fair…Well, at least as fair as Hondo could be.

Humane.

Kind of.

So as soon as Ezra had realized they would be stopping on the rural moon, he was more than anxious. Kanan had told him it would be a quick stop. They needed to dip in, grab a heat generator, and dip out. In a few days they would be heading to a cold system. Not that Ezra knew what system that was, but he didn't guess he wanted to. Cold was cold and he hated the cold so screw the cold.

That was his motto.

He trailed silently behind Zeb, Sabine, and Kanan. Hera and Chopper had stayed behind with the ship. They all knew leaving the ship unattended in this territory would bring nothing but a headache. Pirates would scrap parts from it, and they would find themselves looking for more than just a heat generator.

Still, even with his crew in front of him, all armed with their respective weapons…Ezra felt…Uneasy. Maybe it was the fact that the market place they had just entered was swarming with people that looked like they were ready to eat him alive. Maybe it was because the sun was blaring down so harshly and making the sand spring back full force. In any case…He was sick to his stomach with worry and anxiety.

"Kanan," Ezra spoke suddenly, throat a little dry. "I…Don't feel so good about this place."

His master glanced back, seeming to understand. Maybe he felt it too. The shroud of mischief in the Force that hung over the entire market. The child didn't know how to process it, but Kanan obviously knew what they were dealing with. His attire was different today, a large coat, almost like a pirate's really and Ezra had never seen him wear it. Maybe he was trying to play the part of one? He was doing really well.

Kanan didn't get a chance to reply to Ezra's concern before Zeb chuckled, "I think the kid is scared."

"Don't worry, Ezra," Sabine said from under her helmet as Ezra glared at Zeb. "Kanan used to deal with pirates all the time."

Ezra raised an eyebrow, "You did?"

The conversation seemed less than interesting to Kanan and the man only rolled his eyes. He glanced over his shoulder, telling Ezra, "Ignore the unease. It's just how it feels around these types of people. They're all…Unsteady. Their hearts are ungrounded, which makes us feel the same."

"I just…" Ezra paused, rubbing the back of his sweaty neck that was burning from the sun. He should have taken Hera's advice to wear something over his head. "They're so lost. They're...confused."

Zeb laughed loudly, "They know exactly what they're doing, Kid. Trust me. They're the scum of the galaxy. Not as low as the Empire, but a close second."

"In any case, we have to deal with them," Sabine spoke. "So let's stop insulting them before someone hears us and we can't get any trading done."

A silence overwhelmed the group and Ezra slipped back into his thoughts. It almost felt weightless really walking among these people. The people with no ties to galaxy, no heart in it. He hated the empathy portion of Force at the moment, his ability to feel things within the air and the lives of others, because it could be devastating at times. Right now though, Kanan's presence was bearing down on him like teeth. His master was obviously trying to consume Ezra in an attempt to block out the corrupt around them.

Tents lined the market; making is obvious the moon was a moon for traveling traders. None of these pirates stayed long. They must move from moon to moon, system to system. Trading and stealing and plundering. That was what they did. They never stayed still for long from what Ezra understood. Which is what made them so unsettled. So unnerving.

Unhinged.

Ezra gasped when a hand wrapped around his upper arm, pulling him close to someone. He looked up with wide eyes, seeing a woman peering down at him. She had neatly curled hair, her skin a soft glow from the sun beating down on them. But, her eyes…Her eyes looked crazed and untamed as she held Ezra close, fingers winding through his hair and yanking his head so far back he thought his neck would crack.

"Pretty eyes," She whispered. "You have some beautiful orbs, Baby. The brightest I've seen in years."

"Hey!" Kanan's voice shouted and suddenly she was being shoved off and Ezra was being pulled back, Kanan's arm wrapped around his chest protectively. He snapped, "Keep your hands to yourself, lady."

The woman who had been shoved had to lift herself up off the sandy ground with a huff. Ezra noticed a chain wrapped around her ankle, keeping her in one place. His eyes widened with the realization she was a slave…Someone's prisoner.

Ezra hadn't even realized Sabine had her blaster pointed at the woman. Everyone in the market seemed to continue to go about their business unhindered by the slight commotion. Zeb waved his hand as Sabine dismissively, "Eh, drop it. She's a slave."

The woman stomped her foot and said, "Well, excuse me for wanting to help customers."

"You grabbed our kid," Kanan growled defensively. "You'll have to pardon us if we don't exactly find that to be quality customer service."

She smirked slightly, her anger gone in an instant as she looked down at Ezra once more, "Well, he does have pretty eyes. I couldn't help but notice them. So, so pretty. Where is he from? You buy him nearby?"

Ezra looked offended, "I'm not a slave."

She raised an eyebrow, "I didn't assume. But, your daddy here doesn't seem to have a wifey with him, considering the mandalorian is too young to be your mommy. I was insinuating your mother was bought."

Ezra gritted his teeth, but didn't say anymore. There was clearly no arguing with the woman and the suggestion made him sick to his stomach. He felt Kanan grip his arm comfortingly, obviously able to feel his anger through the Force.

The woman sighed and went on, "Anyway, is there anything I can help you with? We have quite the selection of goods here."

Kanan hesitated, but Ezra could tell he had grown tired of wandering the market and the quicker they found their heat generator, the better. Just as he was about to open his mouth, the slit to the tent behind the woman opened slowly.

Ezra watched as a man emerged. He couldn't be any older than Kanan, and in actuality was probably somewhat younger. He was nowhere near his thirties, no wrinkles marring his face. Inky hair fell in his eyes and a devilish smile formed on his lips at the sight of the group. He was smoking something, puffing the grey out between his lips as he approached the woman and placed a hand on her shoulder.

He had a dark billowing coat, so much like the long one Kanan was wearing. A pirate. Obviously a pirate. He grinned, speaking to the woman, "Thank you, Melevance. But, I can take our guests from here."

She bowed in a respectful manner and disappeared into the tent, the chain reaching just far enough for her to go inside. The man turned his attention back to the crew and Ezra stared up with wide, amazed eyes. A pirate. Not like Hondo, but a real pirate.

Not that Hondo wasn't a real pirate but, eh…Ezra had his doubts sometimes.

"Slave owner, I presume?" Kanan asked, distaste on his face.

The man shrugged, putting out the thing he had been smoking on the metal table beside him before sticking his hands in his pockets. He answered nonchalantly, "Holding her for a friend. She's just a temporary. Though, slave trading isn't exactly out of the ordinary here. You're in one of the hotspots."

"It's hot alright," Zeb muttered under his breath, obviously just as uncomfortable as Ezra in the heat.

The man laughed before turning his attention to Kanan and asking, "Is there anything I can help you with, pal?"

Kanan raised an eyebrow at the pal part before explaining, "We're looking for a heat generator. We're heading to a colder system soon, and we're going to need something stronger than just our general heating setup."

The man whistled at the request, "Well, you didn't exactly come to a good moon for such as that you know? It feels like Mustafar out here but…I may be able to help you."

The inky haired man turned and began to dig through several of the boxes behind him. It was only a moment later that he turned back around, holding a large cube in his hands. Ezra had never seen heat generator, but he guessed it was one from the look of satisfaction on Kanan's face.

His guardian asked, "How many credits?"

His cackle was an unnerving answer and Ezra looked up at Kanan with wide eyes. Kanan's face remained neutral, though annoyance was trying desperately to make an appearance. The pirate shook his head, plopping the machine down on the table before saying, "Listen, pal. You're in the outer rim. On a rural moon. Filled with pirates. People who plunder. Credits aren't what we go for, understand? We barter. Trade."

He paused; looking down at Kanan's hip before gesturing towards it, "That fine laser sword of yours though would be a good deal."

"No deal," Kanan hummed, crossing his arms over his chest.

The pirate looked disappointed, "I'll throw in a few toys for the kid to play with, eh?"

"I'm not a kid," Ezra snapped. The pirate looked down at him, grinning widely. It seemed like a genuinely entertained smile, not like the scary slave woman's that had looked like the smile of someone sadistic.

He reached out and pinched Ezra's cheek, only for his hand to be smacked away by Zeb who stepped forward protectively. The pirate held up his hands in surrender, cackling again. He spoke, "I'm only playing, Lasat. No reason to feel unnerved."

However, before anyone had a chance to respond, something dark crossed over the man's eyes. He was peering over their shoulders, and Ezra looked back, seeing a group of men eyeing them closely. One man in particular had his eyes trained closely on Ezra's lightsaber.

Ezra swallowed thickly, turning back to look at the pirate. The man had his shoulders tight and his hands clenched. Ezra blinked several times in the bright sunlight to see if he was seeing correctly. The pirate that had been nothing but smiles had suddenly turned into a completely different person…Dark.

The man picked up the generator, shoving it at Kanan's chest before saying, "I'll take the credits. You just get that kid off this bloody moon, understand?"

Kanan looked confused, but nodded anyway, handing over the credits. The wind whipped the inky hair into the man's face as he looked down at Ezra. The crew turned, beginning to walk away, Ezra about to trail behind when the man grabbed his arm tightly, making him cringe in slight discomfort.

"Remember the name Cassius," The man hissed in his ear before pushing him away hurriedly towards his crew that were going towards the outskirts of the market. Ezra looked back with wide eyes at the man, who was now glaring at the group of men on the other side of the market. Ezra swallowed thickly, rushing to catch up with the others who had a quick pace all on their own.

Once in ear shot of the others, Ezra heard Sabine say in a low tone, "That was weird…"

"Yeah," Kanan said, looking over to make sure Ezra was still with them. Ezra was chewing his lip, unable to focus as anxiety riddled his bones. "Don't worry, kid. He's probably off his rocker."

"Yeah…" Ezra muttered, holding his arms close to his chest. But, still…Something didn't feel right and the closer they got to the outskirts and the less populated area of the market, the more nervous he felt. His hands were sweating and his heart hammered in his ribs. He wondered if Kanan could feel it.

He wondered if his fear was hurting him.

Soon enough, they were far enough out that the market was disappearing behind them. They had been careful to park the ship far away from the market and all of the other ships, mostly for precautionary purposes. Not that Hera couldn't hold her own, but if a swarm of pirates decided to overrun the Ghost, the woman would be slightly helpless.

Then the fear hit Ezra's gut again.

Lost.

Confused.

Unsteady.

Unnerved.

Unhinged.

They were being followed.

Ezra opened his mouth to say it, but before he could he found his body numb and he had a mouth full of sand. His body hit the ground so hard, the sound was almost nauseating with a thud. The world began to spin and whirl around him, turning into different colors as the many suns blinded him and he rolled onto his back. His shoulder blade stung from where the stun blast had hit him and he could feel it setting in, consciousness slipping away with each passing minute. He tried to open his throat for a scream, but nothing would escape and fear was beginning to eat him whole.

"Ow, ow, ow, Kanan…Kanan." He thought to himself, trying to focus enough to see. But, it was useless, the world was fading and fading fast and all he could see of his master was the whirl of his saber moving back and forth, deflecting blasts.

That's when he heard a roar and screams.

And everything was gone.


It felt like iron had been put over his bones.

Every limb had a feeling of sadistic pain and Ezra's eyes almost refused to open and let him see the world around him. Like cement had them held shut and planned to keep things that way until he decided to slip back into nothingness. Like…His mind had woken, but the paralysis in his body was still in effect.

Ezra groaned, only to jolt to the side when his body convulsed and vomit exited his mouth. It burned and he kept his eyes closed as he coughed and gagged to the right of him, his stomach emptying the contents of Hera's wonderful breakfast that morning.

God, he felt terrible.

When Ezra's eyes finally opened, he found the room he was in to be only dimly lit with a small lamp on the far wall. Before him was a set of bars, like an old timey prison cell that would only be in a child's book now.

The floor was cold cement and the wall covered in cinderblocks. The air was so dry and stuffy that Ezra felt like he was sweating right through his clothing. Where was the crew? Were they alive? Were they alright? Ezra tried to reach out into the Force, but as soon as he did another wave of nausea hit him and he found himself trying to breathe deeply.

His attention was diverted from his sickness when he heard a quiet sob to his right. Looking up, Ezra saw what appeared to be a young woman, several years older than himself. Ezra's eyebrows furrowed and he pushed himself up onto his hands a knees, coming to the conclusion he wasn't the only prisoner in this room. She appeared to be a Twi'lek, like Hera. Her skin was green and she was dressed in a white jumpsuit. Upon further inspection, Ezra found himself to be dressed in a white jumpsuit as well.

And his lightsaber was gone.

"What the…" Ezra began, throat itchy from the air and puking. He looked back at the woman who was curled into the corner and he asked quietly, "Ma'am? Are you ok?"

She didn't answer, only let out another sob. Ezra wanted to approach her, but he didn't think he could stand without falling over at this point. They had definitely drugged him with something out there after stunning him into unconsciousness.

"Hey," Ezra called out. "I know you're…You know…Upset right now. But, could you tell me what's happening?"

The woman made no sign that she could hear him and Ezra sighed in defeat, falling down onto his bottom. He didn't get to stay that way for long though before he heard a loud door in front of the bars open and two long shadows casted themselves across the floor.

He immediately heard a man speak, sounding almost giddy, "How much do you think we'll get for them? Probably enough to buy ourselves a five class ship!"

There was a loud smack and Ezra knew that someone had smacked someone else as a deeper voice responded, "Shut up. It's not we. You may have captured that stupid Twi'lek, but I caught the Jedi."

Ezra felt his heart fall into his stomach and his eyes burn. Oh God…How did they know?

"Psh," The giddy one scoffed. "There's no proof that little twerp is a Jedi. The religion is long dead."

"Then explain the laser sword. Even if he's not, he was carrying one, which is something we can use to get more bids in the auction. Now, come on, it starts in five and I don't want to keep our bidders waiting."

Ezra watched with wide eyes as the two figures approached the cell door, unlocking it. Ezra went to rush them, but only leaned forward an inch before the world began to spin once more. Ezra groaned loudly, sitting back on his bottom and flinched as the Twi'lek began to scream in a shrill expansion as one of the men approached her.

"Shut up, scum!" The man with the deep voice shouted, smacking her across the face.

Ezra felt anger within him as he snapped aggressively, "Hey! Back off her!"

The man with the deep voice snapped his head in Ezra's direction and Ezra realized he had seen him before. Back at the market, he was one of the men that had been staring at them as they were buying the generator. One of the men that had made the pirate very uneasy and the reason they were sent away so quickly.

The man's arms were probably bigger than Ezra's head and his skin was a deep shade of blue. Ezra didn't know what kind of species he was, but he had a feeling it didn't matter in this situation. He was obviously deadly. Ezra gasped when the other man grabbed the front of his white jumpsuit and cackled in his face, "Baby has some spirit!"

The blue man sneered, "It won't last long. Not when he is bought."

Ezra gulped as he looked up at the giddy man. He too had blue skin with a tuft of hair on his head. He was scrawny compared to the other though, his teeth crooked in every direction. Ezra felt pain radiate through him as he was pulled up and began to get dragged from the cell, hearing the woman screaming as she too was dragged out.

"Kanan, where are you? Where are you guys? Help me…Please."

Though Ezra wouldn't say it out loud, he was terrified in the moments as he was dragged through several corridors and ripped out into the bright sunlight. The woman's screaming didn't make it any better and he realized he was on a platform, dozens of bodies surrounding them and watching. The muffled world erupted into one of chaos as he was forced to kneel on the platform and the screaming woman was placed beside him. He wanted to comfort her, but right now he was having trouble comforting himself, especially with all of these faces surrounding them. Faces of pirates. Of traffickers.

Ezra swallowed thickly, wanting so badly to push himself up and run, but finding himself unable to stand. Whatever drugs they had given him made it nearly impossible to think and focus, and especially made it impossible to use the Force. But, also impossible to make his limbs listen to what he wanted them to do.

"Hello, my lovely gentlemen!" The giddy man shouted, causing laughter to fall over the crowd. Funny how they knew they weren't gentlemen and didn't care, but Ezra didn't give a damn right now. Right now he needed to get out.

But, all of his focus was in staying sitting up and trying not to break down like the woman beside him.

"I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting, but we're ready to begin our bidding!" The giddy one went on, and Ezra gasped when he felt a boot press into his back suddenly, almost making him lose balance. "We'll start with this young man here. Taken in just this morning, we found little boy wielding a laser sword."

An awed murmur fell over the crowd and Ezra shut his eyes to hide his terror.

"One can only assume what this means, but we believe he's a practicer of the old religion! Making him quite the valuable find if you ask us. Now, I know most of us on the outer rim are used to the good ol' trade and go system, but today we're betting credits to fund my colleague and I's endeavors. So, we'll start the bidding at fifty credits!"

"Fifty!" A hand shot up and Ezra flinched. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. People bidding for him. It seemed so…prehistoric to think about trafficking and slavery, but it was real and it was happening in the galaxy. And all of sudden he was defenseless to it because of some hardcore drugs.

"Hundred!"

The numbers continued to rise and Ezra looked over at the woman who had her hands folded and her eyes closed. Her mouth was moving in some kind of prayer and Ezra wished so much that he could reach the Force at this moment and comfort himself as well, but the Force was faded into a fog of drugs and terror.

"Two-Hundred!"

"Five-Hundred!"

There was a silence that fell over the crowd and Ezra knew…He knew this was it. He was about to be sold to a man standing on the front row. A man with a scar down the middle of his face, a cattle prod on his hip…A sickening grin on his mouth looking up into Ezra's eyes…Ezra shut his eyes tightly, trying to reach for his master through their bond, but only feeling nausea in his attempt.

"Kanan…Save me."

"Five thousand!"

A quiet gasp fell over the crowd and Ezra's eyes snapped open to see the man who had bet five-hundred was currently glaring behind him at someone deeper in the crowd. Ezra watched as several people moved aside and the person who came into view was everything familiar.

The pirate who had sold them the generator…He was here.

The giddy man grinned widely at the man, greeting, "Well, if it isn't Cassius. I didn't think you were the bidding type."

"Remember the name Cassius."

Ezra blinked…This guy…his name was Cassius.

The man shoved his hands in the pockets of his long pirate coat and he shrugged, dark hair still hanging in his face and squared off in the back, "Not usually. But, I took an interest in this one."

Cassius then turned to the crowd and called, "Is anyone going over five-thousand!?"

No one spoke and Cassius smirked, turning back to the giddy man before saying, "I'll take that as a no." Cassius dug through his pocket a long moment, Ezra watching as he pulled out a box and handed it over to the giddy man before continuing, "I think you'll find all of your credits there. Thank me later."

Giddy man seemed shell shocked by the contents of the box and looked up quickly at the man. Ezra was trying hard to stay upright, but in an instant Cassius was reaching up onto the platform and putting his hands under Ezra's arms, lifting him and standing him up in front of him. Ezra swayed on his feet, though Cassius kept his hands under his arms to keep him upright.

Cassius then said, "And the laser sword, I'd like that too."

"W-What?" The giddy man snapped, and Ezra noticed for the first time the man was wearing it on his own hip. "That wasn't in the sale!"

"I just gave you five-thousand for a boy only worth a hundred," Cassius snapped, eyes narrowing and growing dark much like they had before when he first saw the man watching their crew. "TuTo, give me that laser sword or I'll have some very unkind people on your ass."

The giddy man…TuTo seemed to consider this. This obviously wasn't the first time he had dealt with Cassius; Ezra had realized that several moments before. The man ripped the weapon from his belt and threw it to Cassius, who caught it with ease and clipped it to his own belt.

"Thanks," Cassius said, the same light returning to his eyes and Ezra didn't think he had ever seen someone who changed emotions so quickly.

In a matter of seconds, Ezra was being led from the large room and away from the platform. He wanted so much to go back for the woman who was now being bided for, but he knew he was no good to anyone in this state. It made the rage well within him and burn brighter than any fire. Cassius kept him walking though, hands tight on the boy's arms as his feet dragged.

To Ezra's surprise, they didn't return to the market place. Instead when they exited the building he found himself in an unfamiliar portion of the moon, one they hadn't yet explored and he had yet to see. The blinked hard in the sunlight, cringing beneath its heat as it made him want to vomit once more.

Ezra noticed they were approaching a small village; it too covered in little tents. That made Ezra uneasy because…If there were small camps and markets all over this moon like the last one, how in the galaxy was the crew going to find him? How would they know one from the other?

No one paid them much mind as they went through the market area and entered what was Cassius' tent, just in a different location. The woman from earlier was there, crushing what looked to be green herbs before pouring them into a bowl. She smiled at the sight of Ezra, exclaiming, "Ah! Pretty eyes!"

"Leave him alone, Melevance," Cassius ordered, helping Ezra to sit on one of the pillows. Ezra looked around in a daze, taking in the tent. It was a small space, yet bigger than he imagined somehow. The roof was quite high and he felt like it was much cooler than the world outside. There was a tiny coffee table where the woman was stirring a bowl of something and the floor was covered with fabric to keep the sand off of them.

Ezra blinked in confusion as Cassius pressed a hand to Ezra's forehead, continuing his statement, "He has had quite a trying twenty-four hours."

"Poor baby," Melevance hummed, making a sad face. Ezra glared in her direction at the mockery.

"No fever," Cassius said. "That's a good sign. You thirsty?"

Ezra nodded hurriedly, his itchy throat speaking for itself. Cassius held out a hand and Melevance handed over a small canteen, which Cassius handed to Ezra. Ezra drank the water gratefully, immediately feeling his head begin to clear a bit.

"Thank you," Ezra breathed as Cassius took the water away. The young man sat in front of Ezra on his bottom now, no longer kneeling before him. Ezra went on, "Thank you…For you know, getting me out of there."

"Ah, it was easy," Cassius said. "Though…That was the last of my credits."

Ezra's eyes widened and he looked sorry. Truly sorry. He rubbed his hands together and he said, "My crew, we've got some stuff you could have. We could give it to you to make up the money you lost."

Cassius smiled, "What is your name?"

Ezra looked taken aback by the off topic question, and he was hesitant to answer. Even though the man had helped him, he wasn't quite positive he wanted to tell him. He was still a pirate after all, but he had told Hondo his real name and no real damage had come from it…

"Ezra," He answered, without really realizing he had. "It's Ezra."

"Ezra, hm?" Cassius mused, rubbing his chin. "Mine's Cassius, though I guess you knew that. But, it's important we get acquainted with one another."

Ezra's eyebrows furrowed as Melevance handed over something behind Cassius' back that he continued to keep concealed from view. Ezra felt his shoulders tense in distrust as something suddenly slammed into him.

These are pirates.

He can't trust. Not here.

"Why?" Ezra asked warily.

Cassius' smile was actually something of slight guilt. Like a child caught stealing form a cookie jar. He sighed deeply, responding, "To pay me back for getting you out of your predicament, I'm going to need help with something. Something that I can't do alone. Something only a little Jedi like yourself can do."

"I'm not-" Ezra began but Cassius shushed him.

"You have a laser sword," Cassius said. "You were with a man who also had a laser sword. Now, I'm no expert on the religion, but I'd say that's a master and an apprentice relationship. He's not your papa. So, he's your teacher."

Ezra couldn't speak and Cassius went on…

"So you're going to help me get something back that was stolen from me, and then I'll let you go back to your little friends. Until then, you're my slave. I bought you. You belong to me and you do as I say."

Before he could respond, Cassius surged forward, digging a syringe into his neck. Ezra gasped, the world swirling and pain shooting down his spine as it felt like his soul was being ripped out through his eyes.

Then he was floating on air.


AN: So what do you think? I let my sister read it, and she asked if Cassius had meant for Ezra to be captured in the first place or not. What do you think? You think that was the intention, or nah? Or any ideas on what was stolen from him? I just always like to hear what you guys think. Anyway, hope you liked it, leave a review! :)