[CHAPTER ONE;THE FEAR, THE ANGER, THE HATE]
The Fear. The Anger. The Hate.
It was like nothing he had ever experienced, while to Kanan, it wasn't the first time. His master, while shy about the subject, had explained that after the incident with the Inquisior and the giant 'Rylok', as they seemed to be called, he had channelled his fear for Kanan's life and his anger to the Inquisitor through the force and took control of the monster. Despite being the one to use the Dark Side, his brisk moments were blank to mind. The only thing he could remember was wanting to help Kanan, and a numbing feeling of cold.
"Oh no..." He heard Kanan, who stood behind him, gasp. Through the pregnant silence, Ezra had caught the sound of hard, strict footsteps. Followed by the buzz of a lightsaber.
Twisting himself towards the source of the sound, the padawan felt himself freeze in fear at the sight of the figure. Dressing in a ebony cloak and thick helmet, the man didn't appear human. He towered over Kanan, his lightsaber emitted a deep scarlet.
"Ezra." Kanan whispered back to him. "Stay behind me."
The order followed by the buzz of Kanan's lightsaber, his blue blade seemed inferior to the menacing figures red. Ezra shook the thought, instead summoning his own lightsaber, holding it weakly in front of himself. This guy was obviously not just another Inquisitor.
Kanan charged before he could protest, his attack easily blocked by the figure, who threw his blade back at Kanan. He only defended the attack, but was push with bent knees by the sith, who didn't even see the effort to hold his hilt with both hands. Kanan charged again, only for the figure to dodge his lightsaber and grab his wrist, forcing his defences to lower. Ezra understood that Kanan had only been a padawan when Order 66 had been carried out, but even a fully trained Jedi would seem to have difficulty with the sith. Without a sound, the figure threw Kanan back, knocking him near unconscious. The sith then turned to Ezra.
Fury bubbled in him. Gritting his teeth, Ezra charged at the sith, only to been thrown back against the wall with the force like a doll. He winched, his body felt tense and stiff. He felt helpless.
"Your master has deceived you..." The figure spoke in a deep, thundering voice. He flicked his fingers slightly, causing Ezra's arm to move up. No matter how hard he tried to resist, he could stop the man from raised his own lightsaber to his throat. "-Into thinking you can become a jedi."
Ezra gave the man his darkest glare, his breathing was deep and raspy. "No..."
"Yes. The jedi are gone, struck down due to their own foolishness. Your master wishes you to follow such a doomed path. But, the Emperor has sensed your potential and wishes to speak with you."
Ezra growled. "Tell him that I'll speak with him when Mustafar freezes over!"
The man hummed, twisting his hand down. Ezra gasped as his lightsaber was lowered, but the sith's force grip was not released. "I sense...pain, anger, hate inside of you. A great power that if trained properly, could be quite useful."
"Didn't you hear from the Inquisitor? I'll never join the Empire!"
The man nodded. "Yes. Due to the loss of your parents...Mira and Ephraim Bridger."
"W-what...?" Ezra gasped.
"Indeed. To be frank, I am not surprised of your strong will. Your mother was quite the same." The figure said, lowering Ezra to the ground. He lowered his lightsaber as well. "Your mother lasted for quite some time, even longer then your father. But, in the end, she was not going to last."
Ezra shook his head. "N-no...Your lying!"
"Am I? Well, I hope it pleases you to know that your name was her last breath." The man stepped forward. "It seems that you were still her little 'Ezzy' until the end."
"No..." Ezra muttered, his face lowered to the ground. His eyes began to mist with tears, his hands clumped in fists as he glared at the sith. "You...killed them!"
Ezra raised his lightsaber in front of him, his face was red and damp from tears. He gritted his teeth, his eyes burnt with hatred at the sith. "Y-you..." He growled.
The sith shoved his lightsaber back into his cloak, hiding it from view as he pointed his hand at the Kanan, who was fighting to stay conscious, while mending the wound bleeding down his temple. "E-ezra...run."
"Your master..." The sith began, flexing his palm. A light groan echoed over Kanan, followed by an old slab of metal, rising from the ground and over the jedi. The shadow of the metal almost hid Kanan fully from view. "Is weak. Unworthy for such potential and untrained. But, I sense a strong bond between you. So, boy...do you believe you can save him?"
Ezra gasped, noticing the sith's fading grip on the metal. The metal groaned, losing altitude. "No! Leave him alone!" Through instinct, he lashed his own hand out, similar to the sith. He gritted his teeth, the power used to keep the metal slab at a reasonable height was severely taking its toll on the padawan.
The sith gave less of his concentration on holding the metal, straining Ezra even more. "Such potential."
"I-I'll never...never join..." Ezra winched, sweat dripped down his brow at the weight of the metal. "I'll never join you."
The sith shook his head. "By following the light, you will condemn your master to death. Is that what you want?"
"No...I can't-"
"Then use your rage." The man snarled, loosening almost all his grip on the metal, causing Ezra to cry out in pain, redness crept up his cheeks and neck. "Let you fear power you, save your master...or do you wish to lose this family as well?"
"I...ah!" Ezra growled, his body shook as he panted for breath.
"You could save all of those you love, with the dark side. Do you not want that, Orphan?" The figure lowered his hand, almost sending the metal crashing onto Kanan, only for it to barely miss the jedi. Twisting his head to Ezra, the sith gave him a unseen, malicious grin. The padawan's body shook with anger, he panted through gritted teeth, his hair swished gently in an invisible wind. With a flick of his wrist, Ezra flung the metal towards the sith, who caught it with the force and threw it away. Small pebbles and the sort began to rise above the dust, the others of the Ghost crew could only stare in fear for both Ezra and Kanan. Seeing her chance, Hera rushed over to Kanan's limp form, slinging his arm over her shoulder as she hobbled back to the Ghost.
Zeb snatched Kanan's other arm, supporting the jedi as the stared at Ezra. With hazed vision, Kanan whimpered at the sight of his padawan. "E-ezra..." Damp hairs clung to Kanan's forehead, his legs unable to hold him up without the Lasat's support. "-No..."
Ezra panted for breath, his whole body burnt from strain but he still held his gaze of pure hatred, ignoring his fear, towards the sith. Hearing the sound of his masters call, Ezra tore his eyes away from the Sith, only for his hatred to dissolve at the look in his masters eyes. Kanan shook his head, his body felt numb at the anger, the hate and rage that consumed the boy's piercing blue eyes, usually brimming with light and hope, faded to a empty shell. "Ezra..."
The sith stepped forward, towards the conflicted boy, a sense of utmost triumph filling him. Such hate, such power radiated from the boy, so young...
"You see...the dark side brims with such power, such potential for you to expand you abilities. Your master, sees you as weak, unable to hold you own against such power. Look at them." The sith snarled, waving his hand over the Ghost crew. "You may think they see you as one of them, a friend. A son. But, in truth...they fear you. They try to control you power, to conceal you. You are a tool to them! They do not understand the true balance of the force. They conceal the dark side, and bath in the light. Such in not harmony."
Ezra fell to his knees, his chest hurt from the lack of air, his eyes misted and burnt. He winched, his whole body hurt, but his mind felt enriched. He felt fuller, useful and complete. He shook the thought. He didn't...he couldn't like the dark side. What would Kanan think of him?! A monster? A sith?
The sith stole another step towards Ezra. "You can sense it. The power, the harmony...the fulfilment. You feel free. You, boy, hold such power inside, one quite advanced for your age. You would be very useful. That is why the rebels contain you, control you! You are a tool for their cause, a weapon..."
"No..." Ezra muttered, his chest stung as he tried to look up at the sith. "T-they don't..."
The sith was standing right in front of him. Instead of facing Ezra, he turned to face the rebels. Sabine pointed her blasters at him, while Zeb juggled his bo-riffle in his other hand, still holding Kanan. "The Rebels...the jedi...both are the same. They chose to turn away from the dark, and embrace the light. They called themselves peace keepers, but struck down those who did not follow them. They grew confident, proud and dishonest. And in turn, they set in course their own destruction."
"Ezra..." Kanan cried, trying to gain his balance, but whimpered at the burning sensation that ran through him. "Don't listen to him!"
The sith ignored Kanan, and turned back to Ezra, kneeling down to the boy and with a gloved hand, held his chin up to face him. "But. You, Ezra Bridger- will follow a different, glorious path. You will turn away from the lies fed to you, and see the truth...just as I did."
"Leave him alone." Sabine snapped, firing a blast at the Sith. He ripped his lightsaber out in a flash, and deflect the shot. The Mandelorian continued to fire at the sith unsuccessfully, until a stray shot hit Ezra. Roaring in pain, the Padawan fell to the ground, gripping his side in dismay as he stared at Sabine, who screamed in horror.
"Ezra!"
He whimpered, his hand tore away from the wound, to find a heavy, red liquid trail down his fingers. " I...I'm so sorry!" She cried. "Oh my...I'm so sorry!"
He stole another look at the group, the sith continued to advance at them. "S-stop...I'll go with you."
The sith froze, turning back to him. "Indeed?"
"Yes...Ah!" He snarled with a nod, gripped his side. "Just don't hurt her."
The sith lowered his blade, stealing a glance at the group. They all stared in horror at him, Kanan tried to break out of Zeb's grip. "Kid...no!"
"Ezra..." Sabine gasped, barely a mere whisper. She shook her head, her eyes glued to his wound, which was beginning to ooze blood. His usual cocky grin was replaced by a whithering frown, his skin was growing sickly pale. Her chest grew heavy, her fingers felt numb, unable to pull the trigger of her weapon, in fear of hitting the boy again. "You can't do this, there has to be another wa-"
Ezra stopped her. "No. I can't risk it, the rebellion needs you guys."
"But we need you too!" She protested, shaking her head in disbelief. This couldn't be happening- it couldn't. Her mouth felt numb, her lips chapped and useless. I need you...she almost added, but couldn't bounce the words from her tongue. Before she could say another word, Stormtroopers began to flood the screen, footsteps filled the silence.
Ezra flicked his hand. "Go." A stormtrooper grabbed him from behind, pulling him back. He cried out, his wound ripped. He looked at Sabine, his eyes held no reasoning. "Go!"
The incoming reinforcements began to fire at them, making them retreat into the Ghost. Sabine clung to Ezra's eyes, the last sight of him dissolved with the slamming of the latch. The Ghost shook as Sabine just stood, her mind and heart racing, unable to understand how such a mundane, simple mission had turned sour, Ezra's pleads clung to her mind. Just don't hurt her.
The growling of the engines shook her from thought, the outside firing clashed against the Ghost's hull, causing her to shift her footing in order not to fall. Hera, who had obviously left Chopper to man the cockpit, rushed passed her with a first aid kit. She gave Sabine a quick, worried glance before rushing up the ladder.
"Sabine!" The comm crackled, pushing her thoughts back. "I need you to man the rear guns, now!" She nodded, looking around as if to see Ezra, giving her a good luck smile, before dashing to his own post, only to find herself alone in the hold.
"Sabine!"
"Coming!" She replied, despite Hera not being able to hear her. For once, in the midst of battle, she wasn't buzzing with excitement. Nor, was ready to blow up some TIE fighters. Instead, she was lost, her mind and heart were battling for supremacy. But, between everything, both her heart and mind agreed on one thing; getting Ezra back. The Ghost's usual vibrant atmosphere which she had learnt to call home, was lacking. Another hit shook the hold, forcing her to move.
Grasping the ladder tightly as she trudged up, her fists were white as she scrambled into her seat, her balance resting on the seat. She felt weak, defenceless to help Ezra and had only managed to shoot him! Shoot him! She tightened her grip.
"Keep it together, Wren." She ordered herself, talking in a light whisper. The Ghost quivered as it rose, the hull groaned as the engines roared to life, firing away from the scene, away from Ezra, followed by a fleet of TIE fighters. Blasting through the atmosphere, the Ghost soared sideways, avoiding the oncoming hoard of TIE's and Star Destroyers. Flicking the controls, her eyes narrowed as she fired at an coming attack, destroying the TIE. The usual approving comment that was come from her come didn't come. No 'Great shot, Sabine!' or 'Hey! Save some for me!' ripped through her concentration silence.
Sabine shook her head, her grip faltered, her hands fell onto her laps. As the Ghost slipped through the cobalt vortex, leaving the Imperial forces in the dust, Sabine sighed. Her mind was in chaos, her imagination already concocted several different torture scenarios for their youngest member. And it had only been less then ten minutes...
"Sabine." Her comm rang. Pressing the button, She was silent for a moment, considering what to say to sooth the pilot. With Ezra kidnapped, and Kanan unconscious, it seemed like the mature thing to do. After a moment, she spoke, with not her most calming, considerate words. She had never been the sensitive type.
"Yeah...?"
The comm buzzed. "We'll get him back."
"I know." She lied, feeling a snag of regret. Despite rescuing Kanan only a couple weeks previous, the Empire had already raised their defences. It would be quite some time before they could stage a possible rescue, never mind a successful one.
"Hera...is he-"
"He'll be fine." The pilot replied all too quickly. It was unlike Hera, who was so inspirational and motherly, to fall sort of the comforting stick. "One we get back to the fleet, Ashoka will have him patched up."
There was silence, the only noise being the cracking of the comm, as if someone was crinkling paper at the other end.
"You weren't talking about Kanan...were you?" Hera asked shyly.
Sabine said nothing, the Twi'lek wasn't stupid. The two teenagers, since Ezra and Zeb had stolen the TIE, had grown considerably close. They were around the same age, and so they understood each other unlike the others, with the lengthy age gap.
Hera sighed, setting the ship to auto pilot. Sabine had always been a difficult, and quite mysterious, subject by herself. She had a thick wall, while not as thick as Ezra's, around herself and her business such as her emotions. She pinched the bridge of her nose, usually Kanan was able to tell when something was amiss with the force, but unfortunately, Hera held no such feelings.
"He'll be fine. We'll get him back."
Sabine wasn't the only one finding it hard to swallow their own lies.
Authors Note: And so...Our tale begins.
Noting that this is my first proper fanfiction, I am anxious for criticism and the sort, so please tell me what you think.
This story is a canon divergence, focusing on the first episode of Season 2, with the entry of Darth Vader. Now, seeing that Ezra gained the interest of the Inquisitor from Season 1, and with his powers growing be quite powerful I highly doubt that the Empire, or the Emperor, for the point, would give up on gaining him as a sith. Rather then coax him with power, I would see that he would use Ezra's bond with the Ghost crew against him, and make him exchange himself for their lives. As for calling Vader 'the sith' or 'the man', though it was quite annoying, the Ghost crew do not know who Vader is, only that he is a powerful Dark Lord. This chapter is set before Ashoka learns that Vader is in fact Anakin, and the rest of the episode. The rest of the episode is set in the same motion, minus the addition of Ezra and a few changes. {SPOILERS} Minister Tua still dies, the Empire still burns Ezra's home and the rebels are forced to leave Lothal.
Lastly; I hope you enjoy this little story that I have begun to weave and I sincerely hope that no character was OC, but I'm betting Vader, due to his lack of screen time and usual dialogue of heavy breathing filling what ever time he has. Please tell me if you note any mistakes and your impressions and I will be glad to reply, as I wish to advance my writing to the best of my ability.