- 6 months after Never Alone (Takes place immediately after chapter 17 of Renewal - "Covert Cataclysm")

(Heavy references to chapter 19 of Never Alone)

Blasted kid was having a nightmare again.

"No – m'not … don't hurt him… Dad, please!"

Zeb peeked at the overhead bunk.

"Don't kill him … I'm sorry! Sorry, Kanan, I tried – I – don't! Stop!"

"Uh, kid?" Zeb said softly, rising to shake Ezra's shoulder.

Deep blue eyes spiraled as Ezra was dragged awake. He looked around waveringly before his gaze settled on Zeb.

Panic.

"Go," Ezra urged softly, pushing Zeb's shoulder. "H-hurry."

"I'm not going anywhere, and I'm not dead." The kid really needed a better line.

"I'll hold Vader back," Ezra said faster. "Run! He – he won't catch you! I'll stop him." Tears filled his eyes. "Please!"

Zeb frowned. This wasn't the usual 'I'm alone and you're dead so get lost' sequence. "I'm not dead and you're on the Ghost. Snap out of it, Lothrat."

"He's coming!" Ezra cried out, looking over his shoulder. He shoved Zeb frantically and turned to address the wall. "You don't have to do this! I'll – I'll do what you want, okay? I'll train under you. M-Master – that's what you want, isn't it?"

"You're talking to a wall!" Zeb declared.

"What more do you want from me?" The kid was nearly sobbing, crawling to put himself between the unseen and Zeb. "Dad, please! Don't make me watch again!" He turned aside, covering his face. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Kid…." Aghast, Zeb shook the bony shoulder. "Karabast…. Ezra, you're dreaming, you hear me? Come on, now. Don't make me drag Kanan into this; he's right out of his head with that concussion and Hera'll kill me if I wake him. Kid. Stop sniveling and look at me."

Slowly Ezra lifted his head. "Zeb?" he said hoarsely. "Zeb?"

Frenzied. Traumatized.

Zeb's ears fell. "Yeah, kid. It's me."

"I'm not on Mustafar?" Ezra whispered. He was shaking.

"Nah, kid. We're on the Ghost. I can even ask Chopper to zap you if you want proof."

"Zeb!"

Karabast, the kid practically crawled into his arms! Panicking, Zeb searched for backup and then clumsily patted Ezra's shoulder. "I'm not dead, you useless runt."

"It wasn't you!" Ezra gasped rapidly. "Wasn't – wasn't….!"

"Easy, now! Kanan's conked himself but he's still breathing."

"Kanan w-wasn't there."

Pitiful Lothrat could barely form a proper sentence. All the same, Zeb was relieved.

Dad... Please!

He'd almost assumed the dream-Vader had turned Kanan against them.

A.N. I wish I could respond to all my reviewers for the last chapter, but for some reason the review box is glitched and I can only see them in my email. X(

Here are a few answers to questions/comments:

- Unfathomablefandoms... (shaking my head)... Now even I can't take my own writing seriously. -_- Thanks.

- Midnight Luna... Okay, so it's not a coma coma, and Part 4 is about five chapters away (given that I don't write any more oneshots in between). I do need to look into an actual coma concept, though ... seriously... (Stop inspiring me for oneshots, people!) XD

- heartbreakerninja... Aw, thanks! Tell me who else you were referring to because I missed a ton of early Rebels authors (entered the season late). ;)

- starwarsrebels ... No, you're not weird at all. ;) I spill food on my laptop all the time. Sticky keys are my bane.

- majo2... Estoy loca cuando estoy cansado - mi hermano es paciente conmigo balbuceando , también. XD

- Rebels-lover... Don't worry! :D I never subtract kudo points when people don't review. Everyone has busy schedules. I do love getting reviews, though! Full happiness meter = faster updates! XD

- Empressrulerofallthatiswierd... I didn't just use your idea, I made a confounded five-shot out of it! XD It really helps branch things from Part 1 to Part 3, so thanks!

- Gracie... Yup, it's a "second sequel". ;) There are like ... three more fics planned after this? ("Always in motion the future is..." But yeah, if all goes well, they're in the works.) (And now I have sick!Kanan, coma!Ezra, and noble!Maketh Tua plot bunnies that are gnawing at their cages... So. Many. Ideas.) 0_o

- AzulaBlue92 ... I'm afraid you won't get to see your oneshot inspired from "Missiles" for a while (that's Part 5). Even then, I can't be aggravated by your story any longer since it took on a happy end. ;) Good thing I wrote the chapter ahead of time!

Thank you to coraliturbe, BuruPlays2, Valkyrie-Sythe, Ichichi05, Firehawk720, AzulaBlue92, Gracie, Guest, Empressrulerofallthatiswierd, Rebels-lover, majo2, starwarsrebels, heartbreakerninja, Midnight Luna, and Unfathomablefandoms for leaving feedback on the last chapter, and thank you also to those who reviewed after the acknowledgments! :D