Ch.10: Rescue on Hoth part two
Chopper heard the blast and watched as several troopers were sent flying through the air. Zeb who was beside him looked just as startled but he wore a cavernous like feral grin on his face. "Oh yes…Hera and Sabine are in route…time to turn this battle in our favor!"
Chopper chided him for getting ahead of himself but there was no stopping Zeb once he got going. The strong muscular alien flew off, unchained and unleashed…his form tackling down any trooper or officer in his path. Chopper took this distraction as lasers zipped past him as he spotted Kanan and Ezra tied to some poles planted into the ground. It was clear from their lopsided heads that they were not too conscious at the moment.
Chopper set to work freeing them…the fire from the vehicle spraying out at the compound and the Inquisitor began to move towards it. If he reached the vehicle with Hera and Sabine still inside they would not stand a chance. Using his blow torch he cuts through the chains seeing Kanan fall face first into the snow with a grunt. He didn't have time to check on him as he went to work on Ezra. It was a good thing he had prepared for this mission with proper snow gear.
Ezra fell down with a plop as well and Chopper rattled about a bit wondering if all humans landed on their face. Hurrying over he dumps the weapons to the ground and pulls back just as a laser sizzles past him. Things were getting ab it too dicey for him and from here it was their job to rescue Hera and Sabine. He just hoped they woke up from their nap soon.
Ezra lay there unconscious, well, for the most part as he felt his nose twitch and his body was quite cold. Opening his eyes he lifts his head as snow falls from his hair, his hand reaching out and suddenly falling upon a strange cylinder device. It took a moment for his eyes to work but when they did he remembered where he was and what happened to him. "Kanan…we're on Hoth!"
"I think I already told you that…" Kanan half mumbled as he pushed himself up. Kanan looked about as bright eyed as he did after losing consciousness from the chill around them.
"Ugh…my head feels so heavy…and why is there fire happening around us?" Ezra picked himself up gripping his weapon and trying to steady himself so he didn't fall down again.
"Looks like we are the ones being rescued," Kanan noted as he stood up, a bit more wobbly then him but he didn't want to say anything to put a damper on his spirit. Right now they needed to seek cover or possibly start some chaos of their own.
"I know what you are thinking Ezra…and stirring up more trouble won't get us off the planet. Right now the Ghost is up in orbit attached to that star destroyer. As luck would have it only a few of those walkers were transported here…though one is in good hands." Kanan began to march over to a crate and knelt down behind it.
"Ok…so…we commandeer a ship then…shouldn't be too hard with all the chaos right?" Ezra suggests. Joining him he looks over and spots the one guy he'd hate running into in the morning.
"The Inquisitor…and judging by his pace it is clear he is intending on stopping Hera and Sabine. I will go and stall him best I can…you find a transport off this planet…hurry." Kanan ignited his lightsaber with a snap hiss and as the blue blade singed to life he began heading after the enemy.
"Kanan…how will I know which transport?" Ezra saw Kanan not slow his pace any leaving him with more questions and doubts then he cared to have.
"You will feel it Ezra…trust in the force and let it guide you. Whatever you do…don't come after me." Kanan then went to engage while he turned hating this but he had no choice…they needed a way off this planet stat. Leaving the battle he begins to trust in the force…and it leads him a bit away from the battle…kinda cowardly of him…and yet his eyes were closed and he was feeling out with his hand sensing something drawing him away…drawing him to something perhaps.
The blaster fire began to fade into the background and as he felt his feet stop he opens his eyes and his mouth falls open. "No way…"
Kanan attempts to push out with the force to shove the Inquisitor down but he was already aware of his presence. The air felt colder than usual and since he was still a bit weak he found himself thrown backwards into the snow with a thud. "I really should walk more quietly-."
"I sensed your intentions a mile away Kanan…you really should quiet that force sensitive brain of yours." The Inquisitor began to pick him up in the air and he found his hand going to his throat.
"Oh yeah…well…maybe you should not focus on me or you miss the bigger picture!" Kanan saw the Inquisitor turn and that was all he needed. Breaking free he raced towards him and drove his shoulder into his back sending him rolling in the snow…but not out for the count as he had his weapon out and at the ready.
"Quite clever…drawing my attention elsewhere…but it won't serve you any good. You will have to kill me in order to stop me…and I don't think you are there yet. Your Padawan however seems set for the dark side…he has all the right thoughts and all the right feelings all boiling up to the surface. You can't keep him on a path that keeps him from realizing his true potential. You know what I speak of-."
"All I know is you talk too much…and you won't lay a finger on his head!" Kanan brought his blue blade down on the Inquistior's weapon and the two began to duel. Each parry and thrust was sparked by a deep disliking of the other. The Inquisitor was much stronger than him and he had already laid some doubt in his head about his training of Ezra. Was he really doing all he could for him?
Shaking his head he refused to believe these twisted lies. Continuing to fight him even if his body screamed for him to stop he received a blow to the face reeling from the pain and then he felt his body once again attacked with the power the Inquisitor had and was sent tumbling over one of the crates. Tasting his own blood as his body was bashed about he lost his weapon as it flew from his grip.
"I could kill you…but…I'd rather you watch as I kill your friends. I was going to take them to the Emperor…but they prove too much a nuisance alive." Moving off in that direction Kanan felt a surge of anger rush through him…but before he could do anything he is pulled down into the snow.
"What are you doing can't…huh?" Kanan looks over to see Zeb free and Chopper joins them as he whistles and bleeps.
"Listen Kanan get your head on straight…I won't pretend I know much about the force but what I do know is seeing someone lose their way and give in to feelings that aren't theirs. You helped Ezra…you are going to continue to help him. Just don't lose sight of all that right?"
Nodding his head he looks on and as the walker tries to lock onto the Inquisitor he watches him slice through the legs helpless as he watches it fall down with a crash. The Inquisitor cuts through the hatch then drags out Hera and Sabine looking banged up but still alive. This was starting to look bad.
"Inquisitor…I must insist you drop those Rebels this instant!" Kanan knew that voice…but no…it couldn't be. Looking over he spots the Agent holding a blaster aimed right at his own ally.
"What is the meaning of this…drop your weapon Agent Kallus this instance!" The Inquisitor seemed shaken by this though he did not let go of the two as they were held in a force grip.
"We were ordered to bring the Rebels in…are you really wanting to disobey orders that came from the top? I know I won't sleep well…and with their deaths…comes a heavy grievance on your part. Is it worth it…ending your path as a Sith simply because they've botched a few plans here and there. Isn't there intelligence worth something?" Agent Kallus keeps his blaster trained on him and Kanan doesn't know whether to thank him or grill him on what he got out of this.
"You are willing to die to stop me then?" The Inquisitor holds out his lightsaber as he holds the read beam steady.
"As an Imperial Agent working for the good of the Empire I will stop you…but I will not kill you. I will likely die though through my acts but with you alive you will only have yourself to answer for this." He took a shot but the Inquisitor was too skilled and batted the blast right back at him hitting him squarely in the shoulder.
Watching him fall Kanan propelled himself into action leaping forth and grabbing hold of his body then getting back behind the crate. The Inquisitor was in bad shape and his body was wracked with spasms. Kanan had not expected this from him…how it had come to this he wished he knew. "Kallus…hey…what gives I thought you hated us Rebels?"
"Heh…blame it on your friends…something stuck through…guess I die a traitor…on a planet cold and unforgiving as the Empire…fitting…" Kallus then lay still in his arms…his eyes staring blankly at the sky likely where his home was.
"You may have died a traitor to the Empire…but your sacrifice won't be forgotten among us Rebel scum." Kanan noted that the blast had hit closer to the heart as he got a closer look at the wound. The Inquisitor clearly had no intention of letting Kallus take him down.
"What now Kanan…the Inquisitor has the girls and there is still one walker unaccounted for." Zeb had a point…right now they were outgunned and outmatched.
"We surrender…maybe he will change his mind about killing them and take us in." Kanan figured it was a long shot but they were out of options. Rising up he holds his hands up along with Zeb. Chopper stays behind as one blaster bolt could end him. This was it…no turning back now.
Ezra flew the Phantom after much repairs were made…much of which was stuff he learned watching Hera repair the Ghost. The ship didn't have much speed to it and shielding wouldn't last…but it would be enough to get the job done. This was a rescue mission still and Ezra planned on getting his family out of here without any more peril thrown their way. His grip on the controls was about as shaky as the ship as he only had experience flying smaller vehicles.
"This shouldn't be too hard…I got this!" He tried to see the positive of all this as he saw the white plane of Hoth down below rolling back and behind him. It wasn't long before he reached the others and then it was an extraction followed by a push for the Ghost which still remained hidden latched onto the Star Destroyer.
Ezra could see the spot up ahead but was aghast at what he saw. Hera and Sabine were held up by the Inquisitor and Kanan and Zeb were being led out by Stormtroopers with blasters to their backs. Something stirred then within him…something he felt before but did not wish to admit. A prickle, a fever, a rash of uncontrollable rage washed over him. His hand went to the weapons and he sought out a lock on the Inquisitor.
"You have done enough hurt to my friends…this is for you!" He squeezed off a shot and watched as it sailed down and struck the Inquisitor with the full brute force of the weapon he had chosen.
The Inquisitor hit the snow wall and disappeared under the full weight of snow. Getting control of the ship he turns it around and lays a few salvo of shots at the Stormtroopers. A walker was seen and he turned the ship in time to avoid the shots. Something had snapped inside him as he fired off two rockets at the walker and sent it crashing to the ground, the pilots on fire as they went to put themselves out. Bringing the ship to a touch down he felt cold…like fingers were running all over him…what just happened?
"Ezra…open up and get us out of here." Opening the door he watches as everyone piles in. Hera and Sabine sit in the back quietly to themselves while Kanan takes a seat beside him. Chopper and Zeb seem to be in some sort of argument and as Ezra takes off he grins.
"We might want to take another look over there," and sure enough as he pointed it out there it was…the fuel needed for the Ghost. Mission accomplished…time to head home.
Authors note: Quite a shocking turn of events huh? Ezra's touch of the dark side and Kallus's brave sacrifice all brought on by Hera and Sabine. Is the Inquisitor finished? Next chapter is the Epilogue that will forever change the Ghost crew and with this conclusion the sequel will be set up. See you in the Epilogue.