Rarer than Gold.
The spaceship was massive; its looming birth comparable to that of a small moon. Inside, every passage was identical. Endless corridors connected to one another in a web, causing any wayward intruder to become hopelessly lost. Silence pierced not only the vastness of space but the ship as well, its crew seemingly having had vanished. Ezra ran through these corridors; his chest heavy from activity. He had no idea how he had gotten there. He didn't even know where /there/ was! The padawan had been running through the ship for what seemed like hours. Finally, he came to a rest as he slid to the ground; his hands falling despondently to his sides and a frustrated moan slipping from his lips. Everything seemed to be the same from the color of the walls to the series of grates that made up the floor. There was no use denying it, he was lost. Ezra leaned his head against the wall as he closed his eyes, trying to collect his thoughts. The last thing he remembered doing was walking towards his room on the Ghost, so…what had gotten him here? And where /was/ everybody? Something had been telling Ezra he wasn't alone on the ship but whenever he tried to follow that feeling to its source, it would vanish, leaving the teen breathless and annoyed. Frustrated, Ezra ran a hand through his hair. Relax and concentrate: that's what Kanan had told him to do. Though his training had only begun, Ezra tried to focus on his mentor's words. Maybe if he used the force he would finally find out who was on this ship with him. While the padawan concentrated, his posture relaxed, eyes closed, and breath evened out into a quiet whisper, a dark shadow grew behind him. It wasn't until the last minute that Ezra sensed the presence. His eyes snapped open and he sprung to his feet; using the wall as a backboard to kick himself further from the stranger. Ezra landed in a defensive position, his arms raised and hands curled into fists. A deep laugh shattered the silence within the ship, reverberating off the walls and sending Ezra's nerves on edge.
"Who are you?" The padawan demanded, finally studying the stranger before him. Whatever species it belonged to, it seemed to be a male. He was tall, much taller than Kanan, and pale as a ghost. Beneath his eyes were red markings, making it look as though streams of blood poured from them, but that wasn't what made Ezra nervous, no. What did were the man's eyes themselves. They were yellow, almost to the point of gold, and the look in them was filled with such mad power and hatred, Ezra knew this was not someone he wanted to fight. The man's laughter broke at Ezra's question and suddenly those horrible eyes were focused on nothing but him. A twisted smile made its way onto the stranger's face.
"I am the Inquisitor my dear boy and you, are going to be my new apprentice." Before Ezra even had a chance to digest the disgusting words, the Inquisitor faced the palm of his hand towards him and in the same moment the young padawan felt something pull his slingshot out of his pocket. Ezra stood in abstract shock as his only weapon floated into the Inquisitor's grasp. He…just used the force, but how..? He didn't look like any Jedi Ezra had ever heard of. The inquisitor took a moment to contemplate the weapon in his hand, turning it over to see it from all angles.
"Has your master taught you nothing boy? He hasn't even given you a proper weapon." He sneered before using the force to crush the sling shot in midair, sending out sparks as it was destroyed.
This guy was beginning to really piss Ezra off. Sure he was defenseless and with no weapon, but he would not look weak.
"Yea well, I don't need a weapon or anything to beat you." The padawan replied, forcing his voice to sound as nonchalant and irrespective as possible. The moment the words left his lips Ezra realized they were the wrong thing to say as instead of annoying the Inquisitor, like he imagined they would, they only seemed to make him happier.
"Is that so?" the man questioned, the lilt of his voice playfully condemning like a viper before its first strike.
Sensing an attack Ezra used his speed to his advantage and repelled himself off the wall and around the Inquisitor, but as he tried to further the distance between them a great pressure wrapped itself around his neck. Powerless, Ezra was lifted off the ground by the deadly grip; his feet kicking futilely in midair and his hands clawing at his throat.
"You can't escape me boy, you will join the dark side of the force."
The padawan struggled for air, his chest heavy and his mind going fuzzy in confusion. D-dark side? Wha-
Ezra.
Kanan? Ezra tried to call out for help though his voice came out as nothing more than a painful whisper. Something in the Inquisitor's expression changed. His eyes blazed as he tightened his grip on the young padawan's neck.
"No, you will not escape now." He cursed, his voice filled with hate and frustration.
Ezra?
Again Ezra heard Kanan call out to him.
"K-kahn…"
Where was his mentor? He sounded so close and yet Ezra was sure no one was around them. The teen's lungs screamed for air and slowly, his vision became fuzzy. Losing his strength Ezra's arms fell uselessly to his sides and even his feet stopped their struggling.
"Ezra!"
Just as the lack of oxygen became too much Ezra jolted awake, his breathing hard and his clothes damp from sweat. Somewhere in the night he must have knocked the covers off his bed for they sat lying in a pile on the ground. He…was in his bed…on board the Ghost. Then, it had all been a dream. Still in a haze the teen had to be shaken before he finally noticed the person next to him. Kanan leaned over the bed, his one leg acting as an anchor as it rested upon it, while the other remained on the ground. His hand rested on Ezra's shoulder, it must have been what woke him up. When the Jedi realized his apprentice was awake and coherent a layer of tension melted from his body. He had woken only minutes before when he sensed his padawan's panic and when he came to see if everything was alright he was met with the sight of Ezra thrashing in his sleep, his hands clutching at his neck and his breathing so light it almost seemed nonexistent. Before the pair had a chance to discuss what exactly happened, Hera's voice came through the com system.
"Hey Kanan, everyone. You're going to want to take a look at this."