Author's Note: *Heavenly music plays. I have been enlightened. Hello fellow readers, sorry about the hiatus, but I've been using this past month or so to gain a greater insight on how to read and write literature. I've actually been reading this book titled "How to Read Literature Like a Professor", and it has provided me with a wonderful outlook on literature as a whole. Anyways, a bit of a slower chapter to get you guys back into gears. Slower, but by no means boring. I hope you guys enjoy, and may the Force be with you (it's necessary at this point).

Also, thanks for over 3,000 views on this story! You are all so very kind.

*Mild Language Warning

It had been almost an hour since the base's mandatory check in, and half of the specters failed to report in. Zeb had been sent out a half hour ago to go and search for their lost crew members, assuming they were still on base. He found it common to have Chopper run off and do his own thing, but never Kanan or Ezra, especially without any notification. Though the worn Jedi Knight was prone to seclude himself from time to time, it was not in his character to completely ignore a required check in.

What concerned the Lasat most was Ezra. Ever since his last talk with the commanders, he was obviously very keen on finding that old Jedi master he had seen in the Holocron. No one was sure that the old Jedi was even alive, which heightened his suspension all the more when a report came in of an A-Wing taking off without authorization. He really hoped it wasn't Ezra, though the teen's past did not support his optimism on the situation.

It took a while, but eventually he was on his way to the opposite side of the base, relative to where he started searching in the first place. He soon saw a figure in the distance, but as he approached it, he began to hear a strange noise emanate from it. It took a while for him to realize that whoever it could be was wailing, and it took him just a few moments more for him to realize who it was.

The answer stunned him.

"I should have stopped him. Why didn't I? WHY didn't I?!"

Despite his inability to produce tears, his face could still form the red swollen puffiness that came from someone experiencing tragedy. Wails and screams still rang through his head, while his body remained in perpetual grief, shaking from lost energy and fear for his padawan. It broke his heart, which now felt as though it had been shattered into a million pieces with no way to mend it, not without the reassurance that Ezra would be okay when in truth, he wasn't one bit.

He had tried so hard to stay true to his Jedi teachings and not give in to his emotions, but now he couldn't; for whatever contrived reason, he simply couldn't control his own feelings. Ezra and he have been through much in their past and on countless occasions, escaped the clutches of death; whether it had been the Empire, pirates, or savage bloodthirsty creatures. But in every single one of those instances, there would always be a plan, a protocol, or someone else there to assist him when he was in trouble. There was no one this time. No plan, no aid, no assistance, no escape. He was truly on his own.

There was no way to protect him from the predator that prowled at his every move. And he hated the creature for it.

"That thing can go rot in Hell for all I care!"

Before long though, he felt a hefty furry hand rest upon his shoulder. The act didn't have any positive effect on his condition; in fact, it may have made it worse.

"Karabast." the older Jedi heard the alien mutter under his breath. "Kanan…" the Lasat stumbled out, "What happened to you?"

Kanan leaned up against the holotable, staring blankly into its glowing center while trying not to focus on anything. Beside his right stood Hera, who had just finished gathering the highest ranking officers currently on base to discuss the impending matter of Ezra's disappearance. Zeb stood to his left, his breathing heavy and body smelling of sweat, as though he had ran a marathon. Who could blame him?

It was he who found Kanan alone at the edge of Chopper Base when the Jedi had not reported in. When Zeb first saw Kanan, he was in terrible condition. He was on his hands and knees, striking his fists against the ground while uttering some of the worst language the Lasat had ever heard, even for his standards. Kanan's typically slicked back and well kept hair was a mess, sections of it completely removed from the grip of his ponytail. His face was red and swollen as if he had been crying. The captain had never seen Kanan in such discontent, and the event took him by surprise.

It took Zeb a while to calm down the Jedi, or at least enough so that he could drag him back to headquarters, literally. The man was so drained of energy that he could barely walk. Once he had arrived at the head table, he informed Hera the best of what he could imply from the situation, not being able to explain much. That's when she started calling over the Rebel officers to discuss their situation and end up where they are now.

The only officers present at the table besides the Spectres were Commander Sato and Captain Rex. Any other officers were either off on missions of their own or tending to other important matters or business.

Kanan felt embarrassed for acting so rashly. Despite his actions, he was glad Zeb didn't go into detail discussing his condition, the Captain stating that "He was just having a rough time". The thought made him feel better, but only in the slightest way possible.

He couldn't remove himself from thinking about Ezra and the terrible condition he last felt the teen in. Maul's vicious threat still loomed in his head and would refuse to leave, constantly repeating itself and repaying unwanted visits. Not only Maul's threats, but the words of his own padawan, the screams of pain and agony that followed his cut transmission rippled through their bond. He heard as Ezra's voice grew meek within their connection through the Force, uttering three words that he prayed weren't his last, before his entire signature enveloped into darkness.

"Forgive me, Kanan."

That was the last time he could truly feel Ezra. He knew he wasn't dead, but the snap within their connection signified that whatever happened to him could have been just as bad.

He could still feel some of his student's pain lingering within him...

Hera called out for Kanan and was brought back into reality, ready to discuss a mission plan to rescue his padawan. He was eager to get Ezra back and out of harm's way, willing to do whatever it took to retrieve their lost specter. The only problem he had was keeping his emotions under control.

"Kanan, what happened out there?"

There was so much that he needed to say, so much that he had to explain and comprehend, but right now, it was hard to even speak. He didn't want to talk about what happened, he didn't want to describe what he saw, or what he felt. The thought of shedding light on those memories and feelings made his skin crawl. It was hard to tell if Hera was referring to himself or to Ezra, but he figured that she'd want to hear the full story. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing only on what needed to be said and nothing more. He couldn't let emotions drive his thoughts. He concentrated, searching for the right words to say.

"It was Ezra. There was a disturbance within our connection, one that I had not felt since…"

He trailed off, took in another breath, and began again. He subsided any foul memories that tried to emerge from inside his mind. Now was not the time for a sob story. He said it bluntly and clear.

"He found him... Maul found Ezra."

An almost whispering gasp was heard from amongst the group, and Kanan was certain that it came from the two standing directly beside either side of him. He continued on.

"They are both on Tatooine, looking for who I can only assume to be Master Kenobi."

Kanan felt someone at the table shift their weight and exhale in a deep breath. He soon figured out that it was Captain Rex, as he could feel guilt radiate off the man, in both his stature and tone of voice.

"I thought the old general was dead." The old clone let out a hefty sigh. "Damn fool I was to think the kid would let this matter go so easily."

Kanan glanced up towards Rex's Force signature, resent filling within his own eyes.

"It's not your fault, Rex. We all knew that Ezra was desperate to find Kenobi. He held on so much hope that he may still be alive, that he took the first trace he got at finding him and ran with it." He felt a pang in his heart. He clenched his jaw and squinted his eyebrows together, so close that they nearly touched one another. "If anyone is to blame, it was me for not talking better sense into him."

Zeb stepped up and attempted to give leeway to the already weary Jedi.

"Kanan, we all know that even if you did try to talk more sense into the kid, it still wouldn't get through his thick skull. You know how Ezra is."

Hera walked up and put her hand upon Kanan's shoulder, the Jedi welcoming the small act of comfort.

"He's right Kanan. Ezra decided to take on this task. It was his decision and his alone, there was nothing we could have done to change his mind. He knew the risks that he was making and would make doing so."

Kanan felt uneasy and backed away from Hera's grasp. He looked up onto where her face would have been, his own face forming the despair that rang through his heart.

"So, what should we do now?"

Zeb, the most optimistic of the bunch, was the first to provide a suggestion for retrieval.

"Well obviously a rescue mission. We can grab the Ghost, sneak onto the planet's surface, pick up the kid and leave."

Kanan shook his head in displeasure. "I wish it was that simple. Maul knows we'd plan a rescue and threatened Ezra's life on it."

Zeb stared at the blind Jedi. "So? He's done that before. As long as we can sneak past the scopes, I'm sure we can grab him before the dark wizard notices."

Kanan's heart sank as when he listened to the Lasat's flawed plan. "No, we can't. Maul knows my signature."

"Your what now?"

"My Force signature. It means I can't sneak onto the planet without Maul noticing. It's likely that he knows all of your signatures as well, so I can't risk sending any of you to help him."

Unfortunately, the opposing commanders did not share the same optimism that Zeb had.

Commander Sato, who had remained quiet since the meeting began, spoke to the Jedi Knight with dismay. The Commander could already feel sorrow for what he was about to say.

"I'm sorry Kanan, but under these circumstances, we cannot perform a rescue mission for Lieutenant Bridger from his current predicament."

"What! Why?"

"As Captain Syndulla explained, Ezra took on this mission alone. He was not authorized any permission to do so, thus any aid brought to him would only suit his personal undertaking, not to the benefit of the Rebel Alliance.

"Not to the benefit!?" Kanan began, reiterating Sato's words to derisively mimic the Commander. "Do you have any idea how much he has helped us to form this Alliance? Without him, there may not have been an Alliance to begin with!"

"I understand your concerns and reasoning, but that is the danger Bridger faced when he departed this base without clearance. Performing a rescue mission at this time would cut off assistance needed to make our attack on Lothal, an event which we cannot delay any longer. I'm sorry, I truly wish there was something more we could do."

Kanan's heart was filled with rage, the implication of hearing his own padawan's torment was causing him to think irrationally. He stared down the commander, readying himself to pounce at the man who was denying a rescue of one of their own officers. He wouldn't stand a chance, no, Ezra couldn't stand a chance against Maul, he was far too inexperienced and unprepared to even hope for any odds against that monster. And this man was willing to let Ezra die.

Zeb reached out and grabbed Kanan yanking him back, just as the latter was about to lunge at the commander. Something didn't feel right in him, and the Jedi knew it. He didn't know what, how, or why, but the reality of what he attempted to do made him feel queasy and sick.

Kanan, what are you doing? You nearly attacked Sato out of rage. You let your emotions control your actions, and that is not the Jedi way.

Kanan gasped and stepped back, the Lasat releasing the Jedi from his hold. His head soaked with a cold sweat.

"I… I'm sorry. It's just that... I need a minute."

He turned away, leaving the Commander and the holotable, walking off into the distance. As he paced away from the table, he contemplated what he had just attempted to do. It was never like him to attack another individual so rashly. It was possible that the stress of the situation was getting to him and affecting him more than he expected, unless something happened during his connection to Ezra and Maul.

That voice... Could Maul have something to do with these outbursts?

However he looked at it, the former Sith had everything to do with what was going on now. His anger, his pain, his resent for the man who held his padawan's life in his sleazy hands.

He soon found himself to be quite distanced from the commanders, and thus proceed to stop and take in his surroundings. He could feel an arid, dry breeze passing by, causing his loosened hairs to sail in its passing current. He took the opportunity to settle himself and do his best to reconnect with the Force.

After a few minutes, Hera left the holotable to check on the weary Jedi Knight. It was never like Kanan to act so rashly, so whatever the first specter experienced must have been beyond even her comprehension. Hera was no Jedi, but she knew that every Jedi, Sith, and Force user had some sort of connection with each other, an entirely different and unusual sense that not all beings knew how to yield or understand. However, she didn't have to be a Jedi to know that Kanan was more than just upset. How could she blame him?

Her face could be hard to read most of the time, but unlike most circumstances, her face displayed her worry. She cared deeply for everyone in her crew, especially their two youngest members. Whether Sabean would ever return to them or not, she was still considered a part of her crew. But unlike Sabean, who was currently in the care of her Mandalorian family, Ezra did not have anyone to protect him now. He was stuck with Maul, and that terrified her beyond belief.

As she paced towards the Jedi Knight, she could see it in his body language. His shoulders were hunched over, his legs tense and shockingly still. His breathing was hefty and awkward while his arms quivered. He was facing away from her, but she did not need the Force to tell her that his face would only show deep concern and dread.

By the time she reached him, he didn't slow down his reaction. Most of the time, he seemed to sense any nearby presence and subside his feelings, but this time, he did nothing to stop them. Even though her and Kanan shared a close bond with each other, more often than not, he would do this out of habit. Now it was as if he didn't care what anyone saw, probably because he tried to lunge at Commander Sato from across the holotable, showing that this was how emotionally unstable he had become, that nothing could have possibly been worse than that incident.

She reached out to place her hand on his shoulder, but something made her stop. She left her hand stationary in midair, debating whether or not to approach him further. Eventually, she let her hand fall to her side, exhaling a breath that she held for what felt like hours. The captain stood silent for a long while, her thoughts conflicting with herself and in constant disagreement. She had no idea what to do; to scold him, comfort him, or talk to him. She needed to say something.

When Kanan finally spoke, Hera flinched, expecting that she would be the first to eventually speak.

"Hera, I'm…"

"No. Don't you dare say it Kanan."

Her voice came out harsher than she intended, but she also knew that cooing the Jedi would only make his condition worse. If she was not upfront with him, he would seclude himself from everyone and everything. She hated being so stern with him after seeing how distressed he was, but this was the only way she could get through his emotional barriers.

She felt horrible for Kanan, and no doubt he might feel worse once she revealed him what she was about to explain, but it was something that desperately needed to be said. She drew in a deep breath.

"A few years ago, when you were held prisoner by the Empire and sent to Mustafar, I was given orders to not rescue you. I didn't like the orders at all, I flat out disagreed with them, but I decided to obey them. It broke my heart to know that I… that we couldn't save you."

Kanan slowly turned himself around to reveal his face. His eyes were full of both sorrow and content. His mask was no longer on, leaving his eyes exposed to the arid atmosphere. His expression revealed a deep sorrow, yes, but also something else, a factor that she couldn't quite pinpoint.

"It was never my idea to rescue you... it was Ezra's."

Kanan seemed to be paying more keen attention, cautiously listening to Hera's confession. She obviously had trouble speaking out her next words.

"He's the one who convinced us to do it. Unfortunately, it took the rest of the crew for me to recognize that saving your life was more important than following orders."

She turned her face away, gritting her teeth to prevent an outpour of tears, something that even she was unknown for doing.

"I should have told you sooner, but every time I thought of it, I couldn't bring myself to tell you. I hate that it took this long, and that it took this incident for me to finally tell you. I'm sorry Kanan."

The two of them stood there for a long while, neither saying anything nor making any attempt to come to each other. The air felt deathly still as the two contemplated what they wanted to do or what they wanted to say. A soft breeze blew by, wrapping around their bodies in an invisible sheet, trying to put the pair at ease.

Eventually, Kanan reached out his hand and put it upon Hera's shoulder. She couldn't describe it, but she could somehow feel the grief radiating from the man. Not only that, but courage, sorrow, and strength.

"We'll get Ezra back", the Jedi Knight said vigorously, "whether we obey orders or not."

Despite his terrible condition and poignant state, something in his eyes told her that he was not going to succumb to his feelings. Hera had confirmed her thoughts within that very moment.

The man had finally come to his senses. She didn't know how or why it didn't take him very long to do so, but she was glad regardless. For now, Hera allowed herself a small grin, satisfied to know that Kanan had snapped out if his heated state.

"But I'm not going, nor should we send any of you."

Hera crossed her arms and gave a questioning glare.

"So", she asked, "what do you have in mind?"

"A droid. Jedi and Sith alike can't sense droids because they do not possess the Force. We can send one in a ship to do a pickup, the only problem is tracking Ezra and hoping that he gains an opening so that he can escape."

"We can send in Chopper in the Phantom II. All you have to do is tell him where Ezra is."

"How do you expect me to do that?"

"Kanan, you're a Jedi. You're the one who always told me how close the bond is between a Jedi and their padawan. I'm sure that no matter how far Ezra is shrouded from you, that you will figure a way to find him."

For the first time that day, Kanan was at peace. Hera could tell by not only the look on his face, but the way he felt as well. She hadn't even noticed how her hand removed itself from her side and was now placed upon his shoulder, which is how she felt him relax only a few moments after doing so. His once tense muscles had eased themselves and were finally letting serenity take hold.

"Thank you Hera."

She gave a small smile to him in response. It filled her with joy to see Kanan at ease with himself. She turned her attention back to the base itself.

"Now, let's see where that old C1 droid ran off to this time."

The Jedi Knight looked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean? I thought he was with you."