Chapter 9

Attention! Thanksgiving break is now here! And that means an uploading binge is in the works! Look out!

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars Rebels or its characters.

Ezra calmly approached Sabine, who looked horrified at Zeb's prone form. "Ezra, what are you doing?"

"Eliminating the weaklings that my Master has ordered me to dispose of." His vacant gold eyes gazed at her, all former emotions from before washed away and replaced. He didn't care who these people were; if his Master wanted them dead, then they would die.

"Ezra, this isn't you! The Inquisitor did something to you! Fight it," at this she raised her blaster, "or I'll be forced to hurt you."

At this Ezra snorted. Did this woman truly think she could win against the Dark Side? Ezra continued to walk towards Sabine, but had to move out of the way when a laser was aimed at his shoulder. He watched to smoke exit the blaster, and he could feel rage start to fill him, only to be replaced by a calming sensation.

Do not allow her to rile you, boy. Kill her.

Yes Master, Ezra thought, activating his slingshot. It was a trivial weapon, but with the Force by his side, it would be enough.

Shooting out balls of energy to cancel out the laser blasts, Ezra summoned the Force, feeling it as it drifted around him. It comforted him; there was no pain that accompanied it, and he could feel its power.

Making a gripping motion with his hand, he watched as Sabine's body rose from the ground and levitated in the air. Slowly closing his hand into a fist, Sabine started to convulse, the pressure slowly crushing her. Her eyes showed pure fear. She didn't want to die.

"Ezra…."

Ezra didn't respond. Just a little more power and the woman would be dead; the others would soon follow.

Calling to the Force, he urged it to increase in power. The Force surged, and Sabine reacted accordingly with a giant convulsion. Ezra smiled.

Ezra! Stop!

Sabine dropped to the ground as Ezra released her. They both let out gasping breaths, but for different reasons. Sabine glanced up to see still clouded, but blue eyes staring back at her.

Ezra looked around. "Sab…ine? What's…..going on?"

Sabine tried to get up, but her legs gave way. Opting to crawl over, she put her hand on his shoulder. "Ezra, what do you remember?"

Ezra grabbed at his head. He could hear voices yelling, telling him different things.

Kill her!

Don't hurt her!

Use the Force and crush the weaklings around you!

Don't let the Dark Side consume you. Fight it!

"Stop yelling!" Sabine recoiled. Ezra was digging his fingers into his hair, pleading to some unknown source to stop. His eyes were flickering in every direction, unseeing.

Sabine didn't know how to help him. Ezra needed Kanan and Hera. They always knew how to calm him down. She glanced worriedly towards Hera. This whole time she hadn't moved except for the occasional tremor that ran through her body. If it wasn't for that then Sabine would have thought she was dead.

"Ezra, calm down. Tell me what's wrong. Let me help you." When she tried to get closer to him, he skittered backwards, still not seeing her but aware enough to know that someone was there.

"Please stop yelling!" He was getting desperate. The voices had started to increase in volume, both vying for his attention. At times one would smother the other, only for it to come back with a vengeance.

Do as I say!

Don't trust him!

There was a resounding push against his mind, and the voices stopped for a moment before one rang loudly in his head.

Meet me at my ship. Now.

The calmness spread throughout his body once again, and Ezra managed to get to his feet, albeit swaying a bit. He took stumbling steps that transformed into leaps the longer he stayed upright. Ignoring the voice from behind, he took off through the alleys, gliding through them as he followed the voice's instructions. He didn't question how he knew where to go; he just knew he had to get to his destination.

"Ezra!" Sabine shouted, hoping he would snap out of it before he got away. Her legs were still not functioning properly, so she was forced to watch as he was ripped from her grasp. Scrambling to find her communicator, she held it up only to find that it had been crushed from Ezra's attack.

Crawling towards Hera and Zeb, she shook the both of them, screaming their names, her voice rising with every second. She knew that if they didn't wake up, then Ezra would be gone. She didn't know where Kanan was; Chopper wouldn't do any good in trying to stop him. Sabine needed them to wake up.

"Hera! Zeb! Wake up!"

"I don't think shaking them will wake them." Sabine turned to watch as Kanan limped towards her. There were multiple wounds leaking blood, and he was favoring his right leg, as his left leg was grievously injured. His eyes met hers. "They need medical attention. We need to get back to the Ghost."

"What about Ezra?"

Kanan's eyes closed and a look of sorrow crossed his face. "I failed him. I lost." He looked up at the sky.

Ezra...

"Only the Force can help him now."

Ezra skidded to a stop in front of the majestic TIE Fighter, waiting patiently as the imposing form of the Inquisitor observed him. After a few minutes, the Inquisitor walked behind him and started to usher him inside the ship, Ezra obediently obeying.

Ezra…..

Ezra's eyes widened.

Kanan!

Stepping away from the Inquisitor, he turned to face him. "You controlled me!"

A slight look of shock flashed across the Inquisitor's face before being replaced by a smirk. "You're still able to resist? Good. That shows how powerful you are. It seems as if I will have to break you the hard way.

Ezra took a step backward. "Stay away!"

"Do not worry. I will rebuild you into something better. But let me help you first."

A fist connected with Ezra's head, and he slammed into the metal of the TIE Fighter. Immediately he felt woozy, and he started to fall, only to be caught by a pair of hands. Through his dimming vision, he could see that the Inquisitor's smirk had morphed into a full-on grin, and he could feel a hand running through his hair. A tug caused his head to slam once more into the metal, and he collapsed. But even as his consciousness left him, he could still hear the Inquisitor's voice.

"Don't worry. I will make you perfect."