Whoop, whoop! I'm back!

For my lovely (and oh so patient) readers today, I present:

'To Mend the Bond'

Now, take a seat, because you're going to need it once you read this one! I will say a warning right now for TRIGGERS (or whatever they're called). Blood, torture, electrocution etc. If you can't take that sort of thing I recommend just skipping down to the Kanan POV, just assuming that Ezra got pretty badly beaten up. Like… really badly.

But besides that you're good to go! Enjoy the chapter and tell me what you thought in the reviews! May the force be with you, always!

-Superherotiger

Ezra's POV

"Kanan please," I hissed through my teeth, pressing my cheek against the cold metal floor. "H-Hear… me…"

I reached out desperately through the force, but my energy was fading, my body weak. All I could feel were the throbs and aches resonating throughout my muscles. The cuts that lay deep in my flesh. The pounding, nauseous feeling in my head. The blood that had hours ago dried against my pale, tan skin, and the new wounds that continued to leak a steady trickle down my neck and face.

Tears slid down my cheeks as I laid curled in a ball in the corner of my cell. The cool, stagnant air sent a shiver up my spine, and a small yellow light illuminated the cramped space ever so slightly.

Opening my eyes just a crack, I glanced around with blurry vision at my surroundings. It was perhaps my eighth feeble attempt to search for an escape, some kind of weakness in this metal box I sat trapped in. But from corner to corner, edge to edge, the cell was sealed shut. And with a vent non-existent, the only way in or out of this place was the door directly across the room.

But I winced at the sheer thought of escaping through that way.

My gaze flickered to the crimson red streaks that now painted my cell in clusters and splatters, painted along the floor, against the walls, and dripping down the stairs as if it were paint in some kind of abstract masterpiece. It held a rich metallic stench that made my stomach churn, and every time I saw the horrific markings all I could hear was my own screams from a mistake I never should have made.

I had tried the door once already…

But there's a good reason why I hadn't attempted again.

About two hours ago, I had tried to bolt away when Night Runner, the man in the mask, came in for my third round of interrogation. I made it three steps into the hall, caught one breath of fresh air, and then got swiftly stunned by the guard's electric rods and thrown back in to the cell.

Grunting, I clamped my hand over the deep gouge in my thigh.

I often questioned to myself if, just maybe, he would have gone easier on me if I hadn't resisted. Would my punishment have been as brutal if I hadn't disobeyed? Would my blood be smeared against my prison, trailing down the stairs, soaking into my clothes if I had stayed quiet? Would strong, brave Ezra Bridger be sobbing like a child in the corner of the dark room, calling out for a master or a father that would never show up?

I shuddered, wrapping my arms tightly around my chest as the chill of the cell gnawed at my bones. My eyelids felt heavy and my body was utterly exhausted. But as much as I wanted to sleep, regain a shred of energy, it was almost a guarantee that Night Runner would come in for my next round of 'discipline'. I had been catching a few winks when he came in for our first little chat, greeting me with a lax attitude as his guards electrocuted me in vigorous spurts of torture.

I hadn't been daring enough to close my eyes since.

Right now I just stared blankly at the door as the pain continued to ripple, my mind slurring as memories of the crew and squad… of my family began to kindle. Sabine's vibrant face. Jai's lopsided grin. Chopper's gleeful snicker. Zeb's gruff chuckle. Ace's joyful hiss. Nora's caring smile. Hera's loving face… Dad's comforting hug… Kanan's familiar presence…

"Kanan…" I whimpered, my voice faint and hoarse. "Dad…"

Tears burnt my eyes as I began to cry, the uncontrollable weeping causing my lungs to tense painfully. "P-Please…" I sobbed aloud. "Make it stop…."

Suddenly, the door slid open and a wave of bleached light flooded into the cell. I squinted, my body going rigid as a dark silhouette stepped into the doorway. I could recognise those six pointy horns even from here, instinctively pushing myself backwards and up against the metal wall. A fiery jolt spiked throughout my nerves as the wounded flesh made contact with the steel. But biting my tongue to keep from yelping, I continued to press my back to the wall despite the pain.

Night Runner stepped down the stairs with his hands held casually behind his back, seemingly not bothered by the dried blood he strolled over. He released a sick chuckle and spoke "Bridger. You're looking more pale than usual."

I inhaled sharply so not to snark back. It wasn't worth the bashing that followed.

"I just thought I'd let you know that we're almost at our destination," he spoke in a more solemn tone as he stalked forward imposingly. He halted and glanced down at me from above, and slowly, I rose my gaze to meet his. The visor covered the stranger's face, but the midnight black armour glinted in the light, throwing knives of varying size hanging off his belt.

My vision strained slightly as the image began to waver, darkness eating at the corners of my sight. Night Runner gracefully lowered himself so he was bending down, yet still high enough that he asserted power and dominance. He tilted his head slightly and rested his arms on his knees with a sigh. "A shame you have to go so soon," he teased. "We've been having fun, don't you think?"

I bared my teeth and spat "You're sick."

He laughed at this comment and reached his hand out. I winced and twisted away, awaiting a new wound to be added to my long list of injuries. But it never came.

Instead, he used his gloved hand to grasp onto my chin and tilt my face upward, forcing me to stare up at my captor. He watched me with a piercing gaze, glancing over me carefully as he murmured "Such a young thing, aren't you?"

I wheezed uncomfortably while shifting my weight slightly. "Too young to understand this galaxy," he said with a genuinely sympathetic tone. Or maybe he was just that great of a liar, I couldn't tell. "You know, I'm really doing you a favour," he added.

My eyes narrowed. "And how's that?" I grunted.

Night Runner pulled a knife out with his spare hand and twirled it on his finger with ease, the sharp edge catching a bright reflection as it spun. My eyes widened at the sight, and I instantly felt my body recoil, my mouth going dry. I knew I had stepped out of line with my retorts, but my only hope was that the punishment wouldn't be as harsh this time around.

As if sensing my fear, Night Runner chuckled. He grasped onto the blade tightly and brought it down close to my face, only mere inches from the tip of my nose. I could feel a cold sweat trailing down my neck as I stared at the pointed end of the knife with a shudder. I would have pulled away if I could have, but the male held his grip firm on my chin as he watched me with amusement. Slowly, he glided his hand to the right, the blade hovering just above my flesh. When he finally reached my left cheek, he lowered the icy metal onto my skin, causing my muscles to shudder in both fear and anticipation.

"This blade," Night Runner spoke softly, his voice gentle and subdued. "This blade made you bleed…"

"My fist made you cry."

"Those rods made you scream."

"And now, my voice makes you cower."

"All ingredients for breaking someone," he stated firmly. "And do you know what happens to someone who is broken, child?"

My lips pulled into a thin line and tears blurred my vision. "What…?" I asked quietly, the blade still pressed into my cheek.

"They don't feel anything," he stated firmly, releasing his grip on my chin and finally pulling the knife away. "No more pain. No more emotion. No one will ever hurt you, or manipulate you, or treat you like dirt ever again. You'll be invincible."

He glanced down at me and asked in a caring, hollow tone "Isn't that what you want Bridger? I can make it so you never feel this emptiness again."

I laid my head back against the floor and rasped "Is that… what happened… to you?"

He suddenly froze, but I pried "You broke yourself… so you didn't feel… didn't care…"

"But at what… cost?" I panted, my voice croaking. "Your conscience…? Your soul…? Your sister…?"

Night Runner suddenly snapped, lunging forward with a ferocious roar as he grasped onto my throat and heaved me into the air. "Shut up you insolent fool!" he barked, his tough hands constricting my airways.

I gasped for oxygen while clawing weakly at his hands, the man rising to his full height and dragging me along with him until I was suspended in the air. "Will you never learn," Night Runner seethed as he slammed me against the wall with a triumphant bang. "Even while aware of the outcome you continue to test fate! Are all rebels so foolhardy?!"

I groaned, my head spinning slightly, but still managing to crack a smirk as I replied "Only… the good ones…"

The male growled, his patience obviously wearing thin as he snarled "Only an idiot would still fight after everything I have, and will put you through."

"Why?" I snarked back while beginning to feel lightheaded again. "Because… I made you… feel? Or because… I stripped you… of your… pride…"

I had obviously hit a nerve as I felt his grip slacken from shock, but my victory was short lived when he yelled in furry and threw me into the middle of the room. My mind was unable to catch up with my body as I tumbled onto the hard metal floor, grinding my palms into the smooth surface as I tried to balance myself again.

But Night Runner wasn't finished, kicking me in the side which caused me to roll onto my back. There, he leapt on top of me and dug his knee into my stomach, knocking the wind out of my system and pinning me to the floor. He lunged one hand forward, grasping onto my neck as the other pulled out the knife and held it in my view. "I will show you stripping someone of their pride!" he scowled, his grip tightening around my throat.

I squirmed desperately but he had me stuck to the floor, his knee holding me down while his free hand restrained any movement of my head. When he moved the blade to the side of my face, I bit my lip and waited for him to take a swipe for my cheek. But instead I heard something far worse.

It was the sound of metal slicing hair.

My eyes shot open, and I stared up at Night Runner in shock as the fight suddenly left my system. The fury had all but disappeared from his presence, but I could hear his ragged panting under the mask as the tension in his muscles unravelled. The two of us just stared at each other in complete silence.

Until, slowly, he raised his hand away from my face, bringing the small braid that was now entwined between his fingers into view.

I gasped at the sight of my padawan braid, no longer attached, but separated from me.

Everything is represented. My rank. My master. My family.

Gone.

Cut off in one swift blow.

"No…" I whispered, tears welling in my eyes.

"Oh yes," he spoke with sick glee, satisfaction settling in his gaze. "A padawan braid. The symbol of an apprentice when he or she is lucky enough to be picked by a Jedi master, correct?"

I could feel sobs getting caught in my throat as I watched him toy with the small piece of hair, wanting desperately to reach out and snatch it but with no more energy remaining. "They say a master used to cut off the braid when their student reached knighthood," he added fondly. "Does that sound about right Bridger?"

The tears finally slipped out, and muffled sobs began jerking my throat. Night Runner lessened the pressure on my stomach and chest, seemingly pleased with this new form of torture he had created. I cried freely, not even bothering to cover my face with my hands as I wept. The tears just fell over my cheeks and onto the floor as my chest ached with every sob.

What would Kanan think if he saw me like this? Useless? Weak? Unworthy to be his padawan?

He had said to me that if I ever doubted that I wasn't one of the crew, then all I had to do was touch my braid. Remember that I was his student and always would be…

But, now it was gone.

I couldn't touch it and be certain it was true, because like the braid was now cut from me, the crew and I were separated by the huge expanse of space.

Realisation dawned on me that the crew wouldn't be coming. It's like for however long I had been captured I still maintained this silent hope they would save me. Protect me. Wrap me in their arms and tell me everything would be okay.

But as I stared at my padawan braid and everything it represented dangling from the grasp of this monster, blurring through a haze of hot tears, I came to accept reality.

They weren't coming…

And I was on my death sentence.

"Don't worry young one," Night Runner soothed as he raised the braid to the light fondly. "This will still make a fine addition to my collection."

I had no more energy left to fight back. Not like I'd win anyways. But if these really were my final hours, then damn I wasn't going to die with all these regrets, these memories, these feelings still on my chest in the afterlife!

"Kanan! I'm… s-sorry!" I screamed through my sobs. "I'm… s-so… sorry!"

Night Runner rose to his feet gracefully as he clipped the braid to his belt, watching the sobbing mess on the floor as I continued to voice my mind. "For-giv… me!" I howled. "I… was-n't s-stro-ng… enough!"

My captor nudged me with his boot slightly as he commented with a snicker "Don't worry padawan. If the Empire comes calling, you and your master may be reunited after all."

Hot tears consumed my eyes and I curled up onto my side. "D-Da-ad," I called out through my weeps. "Protect… m-my… fam-i-ly…! Protect them!"

Suddenly, the ship jolted slightly as vibrations rattled my already pounding skull. Night Runner glanced at the door, then back at me as two new figures stepped into the cell. "Do not worry," he murmured, his voice more gentle then his appearance. "I will ease your pain."

The sound of electricity ruptured from beside me as I caught a single glimpse of the guards before they brought their staffs down in a blur of yellow…

Then everything was black, and cold…

Hera's POV

"Okay, is everyone clear on the plan?" I asked over the com as I steered the Phantom towards the planet's surface.

"Yep. Nora and Chopper will create a distraction with the Cronix while Zeb and I go blow up the Bounty hunter's ships, Jai and Ace on the Empire's," Sabine spoke confidently. "We'll meet up again in hangar twelve, where if everything goes to plan, you, Kanan and Ephraim will have Ezra by the time you get to us."

I nodded sharply, replying "Good job Sabine. Keep your coms live. We won't have much time when we get to the surface."

"Got it Hera," she spoke. There was a moment of hesitation, until she added "And good luck…"

I smiled lightly, saying "To you too."

With that the line went silent, and the Phantom's atmosphere became tense and stagnant. I switched the ship to auto pilot and swivelled in my chair, gazing at the two males who sat rigid in the back seats. Kanan had his back pressed to the wall, his head tilted upright slightly with his arms folded heavily over his chest. But even from here I could see the sweat that sparkled his tanned skin, and how his lips were pulled into a thin line as his brow creased in an uncomfortable frown.

Ephraim sat across from Kanan on the other side of the Phantom, his hands clawing at his face as his body shuddered every now and again. His teeth were bared and his expression was contorted into a painful scowl.

My heart melted at the sight of the two.

It had been agonising to watch their pain increase as the seconds, the minutes, the hours ticked by. Ephraim had grown impatient, angry, but down-right exhausted as he battled with the torture he wasn't even experiencing, while Kanan was beginning to feel the same symptoms of his counterpart.

As much as neither of them were in no condition to fight, they were too stubborn and focused to back out now. It would be a waste of energy to try and convince them out of it.

But I watched on curiously as Kanan leant forward and rested his hand on Ephraim's shoulder, his eyes still clenched shut. At his touch, the older male released a strained sigh, tinged with sorrow and a deep seeded pain. Ephraim placed his hand on Kanan's knee, he too not even needing to open his eyes as he did so. Kanan's expression soften slightly and I saw his shoulders slump in relief.

I tilted my head slightly, but as quickly as the moment had come, they pulled away and settled back into their original positions.

Standing up, I walked over towards the eldest Jedi and bent down next to him. He didn't react to my presence. Expression softening, I placed my hand gently on his arm and spoke "Thank you so much for your help Ephraim. We couldn't have done this without you and your squad."

His empty blue eyes fluttered open in a daze, and as he slowly pulled his hands away from his face I noticed the thick, damp trails that ran down his cheeks. "I-It's no problem… really," he sighed, his voice faint. "We c-couldn't have… done it without you…"

I smiled lightly, my expression sympathetic. "We'll be on the surface soon," I explained softly. "Are you sure you guys are up to this? We can figure something else out if you-"

"No," Ephraim cut me off, before groaning and pressing his hand to his forehead. "W-We'll be f-fine… just get us to Ezra… and we can do the rest… R-Right Kanan?"

I glanced over my shoulder to see that Kanan was grinding his teeth in discomfort, deep creases forming in his brows. "Mm hm," he grunted to signify his agreement. It was obvious he was going through Ezra's pain too.

I was about to go to my partner's side and comfort him instead, but suddenly, the two went completely still, their eyes shooting open in shock. Kanan gasped sharply, and Ephraim went as straight as a board. "Ephraim," Kanan whispered as his eyes went ghostly and vacant.

"I know," Ephraim murmured, tears still falling down his cheeks despite the fact he seemed to be staring into another dimension. "Something's happening…"

My gaze flickered between the two as an unsettling feeling formed in the pit of my stomach. Something was about to go wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong.

A minute or two passed, and nothing changed besides Ephraim wincing and clamping his hand against his left cheek. But I continued to watch on with concern for the two males as they remained frozen, as still as statues.

Until all of a sudden, both of them yelped as they slammed themselves into the walls with a force I couldn't see. Ephraim clawed at the air around his throat, rasping "E-Ez…ra!" I watched with wide, horrified eyes, but not a few moments later, Kanan collapsed onto the floor and gasped for air that never seemed to come.

"Kanan! Ephraim!" I exclaimed in distress as I jumped to my feet, ready to step in.

But I didn't know what to do. I wasn't sure how to help.

I ran to Kanan's side and bent down next to him, caressing his face between the palms of my hands. "Hun, talk to me!" I pleaded. He was shaking violently, his eyes vacant. "Come on, snap out of it!"

"I-I see… him," Ephraim stuttered. "S-Son!"

Suddenly he snapped back to reality, clawing at his chest as he gasped desperately for air. He panted heavily for a few moments until his senses kicked back in, pulling at his hair in sheer frustration and roaring "No! No! No! I saw him! H-He was right there!"

His head snapped in our direction as I soothed silent words to my partner, trying to bring him out of whatever nightmare he was experiencing. "Love, hear me, come back to me," I whispered nervously, running my fingers through his loose hair as he shivered. "It's not real, you have to come back to us."

"H-Hera," Ephraim wheezed, sliding down beside me. "He can't h-hear you… he can only hear Ezra…"

"What's happening to him?!" I demanded in fear.

"His connection with Ezra, it's dragging his subconscious to him," he breathed shakily, his posture weary. "Night Runner's doing something, to Ezra… I didn't have the strength to stay with him… and now I can't feel him at all…"

"E-Ezra," Kanan called softly in his trance.

Tears began pooling in the corners of his blank, teal eyes. "N-No… S-Stay with, m-e," he rasped. "Stay s-strong I-"

The shuddering seized, his body stilled.

"Ezra," Kanan whimpered softly.

The fog slowly cleared from Kanan's teal eyes as he practically collapsed, slumping against me as he was drained of all energy. I pulled him to my chest and laid his head against my shoulder, using my hand to reassuringly stroke his face as he teetered on the edge of unconsciousness. "Love, can you hear me?" I soothed. "It's okay. We've got you. You're safe."

The Jedi's breathing was ragged, and though his eyes were half shut, water still slid down his face in thin trails.

"I… I saw… him," he wheezed, his voice barely audible.

Ephraim sprung up, asking "What did you see Kanan? What did Night Runner do to our Ezra?!"

Kanan swallowed deeply, clenching his teeth together as he mustered all his strength to collect his words. But when he spoke his voice hitched and his breath caught, before finally pushing out the answer that shattered everyone…

"He broke him…"

Super Bomb #3

The Light in the Dark

Remember Me

Lost Chapters

O' Family of Ours

There is no Death, There is the Force

To Mend the Bond

Beasts of Legend

Family Ties