(Kanan's POV)


"Ezra!"

I sat up quickly in the bed as the spike of fear and despair traveling through the bond from Ezra woke me, a cold sweat starting to form along my brow as I shivered from the sudden cold sensation that traveled through my body.

Confusion drifted through the haze of my mind as I frowned. I didn't understand what had caused Ezra such distress though our bond, but I felt with sudden certainty that whatever had caused it was still happening.

The fear was raw. Fresh.

Something was happening to him.

Right. Now.

Another spike of fear through the bond had me tensing, the overwhelming urge to move pushing aside my remaining confusion in an instant.
I was throwing back my covers and out of the bed without a second thought, stumbling and hitting the wall before remembering to feel my way with my hands.

My motions were rushed as I reached the door and hit the sensor to open it, the urgency becoming almost unbearable.

If something happened to him, I wouldn't forgive- I started desperately, just to draw up short.

I didn't even sense Hera walking by my door before I rushed out until it was too late. Hera let out a cry in surprise when I drew up short and stumbled into her, but she caught us and managed to regain her balance, keeping us from falling with a bewildered look.

"Ka-Kanan?! Darling? Are you oka-"

I yanked back as if she had stung me. Falling back into the doorframe with a grunt before turning and starting down the hall.

There wasn't time.

I could feel her reach for me but I just brushed by her hand, surprising her even more as I rushed past, hand constantly along the wall this time for orientation and balance.

"Kanan! what are you-?"

"It's Ezra!" I huffed through clenched teeth as another wave of fear hit, this time noticeably more faint. Just like his presence. "Hera, something's wrong! Where is he?!"

I could feel her confusion as she she froze in surprise for a moment, but her energy in the Force quickly laced with determination, her motherly side coming out at the mention of Ezra's name being spoken with distress. She rushed to catch up with me as she spoke.

"I saw him go to the phantom a while back. Why, what's going on?"

Relief flashed through me in an instant as I knew we were already close, and within moments we were at the hatch that lead up into the waiting Phantom. But as I reached for the ladder my connection with Ezra suddenly shrouded with darkness, giving nothing away.

I hesitated, frozen in shock.

"I-... I don't know…" I finally answer Hera, swallowing thickly. "Hera... I can't sense him anymore."

Her eyes widened. "Wha- Wait!"

Smothered in the sense of wrong coming through the Force I ignored her and rushed up the ladder, opening the hatch to the phantom in fear Not caring what could've been waiting for me on the other side.

Something was wrong. Ezra needed me.

Quickly pulling myself up I turned and helped Hera up as well, desperate for her to see where Ezra was for me now that I could no longer feel him myself through the Force.

I cursed Maul silently for taking my vision as I turned my head in every direction anyway out of habit.

"Do you see him? Where is he?"

Tense I waited for Hera to speak, to let me know, as I focused on her feelings through the Force for a clue as to what she was seeing beyond what I could sense.

"I-..." Her worry shifted to confusion in the Force, then panic. "H-He's not here... Kanan, he isn't here!"

She grabbed the side of my arm in some form of reassurance, clearly panicking as well now.
I frowned as I reached out with my senses and tried to feel something- Anything - from my padawan.

No, it couldn't be...

Ezra was right here, he couldn't have just disappeared. They were still in space, the phantom was still here also, so where...?!

I stilled as a feeling of darkness and cold brushed by me in the Force.

No...

It was familiar...

No!

Feeling despair build within my heart I voiced quietly what I felt for Hera, clutching her close as I did so.
I knew that Force signature all too well.

"Maul... Maul was here."

My jaw clenched in determination as Hera let out a sound of surprise and worry.

"Maul was-? But how?" She asked, voicing what I myself desperately wanted to know.

But I couldn't answer her. I didn't know what to say.

I didn't know how Maul got here, but it didn't matter. Right now, all that mattered was getting Ezra back.

And I would get him back.

I wouldn't give up until I did.

Heading back to the common room I waved off Hera's attempt to help me walk as I felt my way along the wall, her following slightly behind with worry. I could feel her guilt and sadness through the Force over what I had told her, and it played in tandum with my own feelings.

But I blocked it out as best as I could.

I had to tell the others of what Hera and I had discovered. About Ezra missing.
But, what would I say? That I, his own Master, couldn't feel when he was in danger until he had called out to me?

No- that I had refused to feel when he had needed me most, until it was too late?

That I blocked him out after Malachor, just as much as he did me?

Guilt almost doubled me over, but I stayed standing, heading to the booth and hanging my head as I sat down heavily.

I didn't even bother to look up as I waved in the general direction of the door. "Go get the crew, Hera. I'll be fine."

My voice was tired, drained and heavy with guilt that I was barely holding in. But that didn't matter right now. Only Ezra did.

And I already knew what I had to do.
The crew would be my eyes, andI would lead them to Ezra. We would get him back.

...We had too.

I had too.

My hands clasped tightly together in front of me as I felt Hera hesitate. I could tell she didn't want to leave me here alone. Not after what just happened.
A slight brush of anger rushed across my mind at her hesitance, but I pushed it into the Force.

I appreciated her concern, I did, but Ezra was more important right now.

Besides… I knew it wasn't her I was truly angry at.

It was myself.

"Please, Hera," I say quietly. "I need your help. I- I can't-" I reach for my eyes, fingers touching fabric where skin would once be. "...not anymore..."

I felt a sharp pain from her as she gently touched my shoulder. Something that strangely felt like a tear landing on my up-reached hand.

"Of course hon, I'm here for you." She squeezes my shoulder before letting go reluctantly. "We all are."

With that she left, the door whooshing shut behind her as I lowered my head to my hands.

My mind was tossing in turmoil as I waited, so I desperately reached for Ezra through our bond once more. Yet once more, I felt nothing.

Like our bond never existed in the first place.

Taking a shaky breath I carefully blanked my mind, struggling to send all my emotions into the Force.

I had to stay calm. My emotions were clouding my judgement.

And I couldn't have that, not now, not when he-... when Ezra-...

No, it would be okay.
They would get Ezra back.
They had to.

And Maul would pay for taking Ezra from them.

No...

He would pay for taking Ezra from him.

Feeling determined now more than ever, I looked up as the door whooshed open and several lifeforms entered the room, brightly glowing within my mind.

They were here.

Good.

We could finally begin.