Alacey woke with a start, she was tied to a chair. Ezra was too but was still unconscious. They sat face to face.
"Well looks like our guest of honor is awake." Mara laughed.
"You sure do have way of treating your guests." Alacey retorted. "What do you want with me and Ezra?"
"You're going to lead us Luke Skywalker. As for the boy he's just collateral."
"Good plan, but there's a flaw, I am not going to lead you to him."
"Yes you are. All we need you to do is get on the comlink, tell him where you are and he'll come to recuse you, just to be killed. And if you don't we'll kill your friend."
"Who are you?"
"Just another life your rebellion ruined. We all are. We trained under the empire for years, we gained power through the dark side of the Force until the rebellion took it all away. Now you just have to decide – save your brother's life or your friend's." And with that Mara left the room.
"Ezra! Ezra! Ezra wake up!" Alacey called out to him. "Ezra come on, I getting you out of here alive and it would be easier if you were awake."
"Aww, you care." Ezra jested as he opened his eyes.
"You were awake the whole time?"
"Yeah I heard the whole thing." Then Ezra's voice turned serious. "What are you going to do?"
"They were here." Kanan said "This is Ezra's lightsaber."
"And that's Alacey's lightsaber." Luke said. "So whoever took them knows who they are."
"So this isn't some random kidnapping, they were targeted." Ahsoka told them.
"By who then?"
Ahsoka thought for a moment. "Ever since Kanan and I defeated the inquisitors I have been hearing of whispers of a group called the Children of the Empire, people whose Sith masters died because of the Rebel Alliance. It has been so small I have only been able to grab some names Mara Jade, Mireya Quinones, John Oswald etc. But they're so well hidden I can't find anything on them."
"John Oswald that's the name of the Sith that kidnapped The Damerons' son." Kanan said. "This is a trap, we can't go after them."
"Are you insane?!" Luke exclaimed. "My sister is out there and your padawan is too. They've been captured by a group of Sith, who knows what's happening to them."
"I know. But my padawan is smart and Alacey is too, they should be able to find their way out."
"I don't like the idea of leaving them on their own, Alacey has had enough of that."
"Ezra has too. But that can be used to their advantage."
"What's your story, princess?" Ezra asked Alacey.
"Are you really asking me this now?"
"You said I didn't know a thing about you, so tell me."
"We really should be trying to get out of here."
"Tell me."
"What do want you know?"
"Start from the beginning."
"The beginning." Alacey smiled slightly. "Alright. My mother was Padme Amidala."
"The former Queen of Alderaan, I remember her, she was one who recruited Kanan, Sabine, Hera, Zeb and I to The Alliance. She died didn't she?" Alacey nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"I barely spoke to her."
"What do you mean?"
"When I was born, to protect me, Luke, and Leia she hid me on Tatooine in the care of Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"The Jedi Master?"
"Yes, He would tell me stories of the Jedi and before the Empire. He took care of me, cheered me up when I was sad, always made me laugh, he was the greatest father I could ask for. But then I found Luke in the desert and everything changed. I saw Darth Vader kill my father right before my eyes."
"I'm so sorry. Did he tell you about your mother?"
"No, but I got a chance to speak to her before she died."
"How did she die?"
"I don't know, the doctors didn't even know."
"Both my parents were captured by the Empire when I was seven, they spoke out against the Empire, just talking. They did nothing like raiding bases or blowing up superweapons, just talking, but in the eyes of the Empire that was a crime and they went to jail. They died while leading an escape. The Stormtroopers just hauled them away not caring about the little boy who was going to end up on the streets."
"That's the Empire for you. All they want is to take out anything that poses a threat to them, no matter what they ruin in the process." Alacey laughed. "And here we are talking about them it like they're still in power."
"They might as well be. We defeated them but here we are fighting against them." Ezra sighed. "Do you ever wish that the whole idea of rebelling against the Empire never happened?"
"Yeah, I mean the Empire would still be power but at least we would be with our families, you would be with your parents and I would be with my father. But I guess that's why we have to keep fighting, so their deaths won't be in vain."
"Remember our mission together with Kanan on Sullust?"
"Oh yeah that was right after the Battle of Endor, and you didn't listen to a word I said."
"We did get off the planet alive didn't we?"
"But we did spend a lot of time arguing."
"That got me one of those master-padawan talks with Kanan, it was about respecting other people's opinions."
"I got one of those one too, from Luke." They both laughed
"Funny how we can just sit here and talk when our lives are at stake. But whatever happens don't worry about me."
"Ezra –ˮ
"Alacey listen to me. If you want to put my life on the line to save your brother, do it."
"Ezra, I can't let you –ˮ
"Yes, you can." Ezra grabbed Alacey hands. "You're the most skilled and compassionate person I've ever met. You've seen more battle than I have. You deserve to be happy."
"Tick tock, tick tock." Mara Jade said as she walked into the room. "So you have been here for about fourteen hours give or take, but you were unconscious for most of it."
"Good, you know how to tell time." Ezra told her.
"Oh look, our collateral is awake."
"I'm nobody's collateral, sister."
"Charming, hate to see you get killed. But I guess it all depends on what Her Royal Highness here does." Then Mara punched Ezra in the stomach.
"Uh." Ezra groaned.
"So what's your decision?" Mara asked Alacey. Alacey didn't want to see Ezra get hurt but she also didn't want Luke get killed. "No answer? So be it." Mara untied Ezra from the chair. "Have any last words boy?" Mara asked.
"Yes actually I do." Ezra said, his voice never faltered for a second. "Alacey Kenobi, I don't care what happens to me next, but I want you to know that I love you. Ever since that mission on Sullust I have loved you."
"Remember that Bridger." Alacey told him. "Because I love you too, and I promise you that we're both getting out of here alive."
"I wouldn't make promises I can't keep if I were you Kenobi." Mara said. "Let me show you something I learned from my master." Then Mara started to shoot lighting at Ezra.
Ezra's POV
I felt the electricity as it shot up every part of my body. I was screaming. The pain was too much but I have to hold on for Alacey. I love her so much, I can't leave her. I have to hold on…
Alacey's POV
As I saw Ezra being tortured, I knew had to save him. I love him so much, I can't leave him to die. I heard my father's voice in my head. "Don't give into anger." Don't worry dad I don't intend to. I focused compassion I had for Ezra…
"With all due respect Your Highness, we have less the three days to find my son and I'm not going to just sit here and wait for two thirteen year olds to show up." Shara told Luke.
"Shara." Kes told her. "Please do not get angry at him. It's my brother he is trying to get us to turn on each other. Why else would this Children of the Empire group kidnap them?"
"I'm just worried out of my mind for Poe."
"I am too. But we shouldn't underestimate John please Shara trust me."
"Don't worry everyone here can go to Alderaan." Kanan spoke up. "I'll stay here and wait for Ezra and Alacey."
"By yourself, Kanan are you sure about this?" Hera asked.
"I am Hera." Kanan analyzed the look on Hera's face that question went way beyond a simple concern. "I'll be fine."
"I'll leave you The Phantom so you can get off this planet."
"Thanks Hera." After everyone boarded The Ghost, Hera stayed behind for a few minutes to talk to Kanan.
"You really scared me out there when you were injured back on Lothal." Hera said as she touched the bandage that wrapped around a portion of Kanan's forehead.
"I'm sorry."
"Are you sure you'll be ok by yourself out here?"
"I'm sure."
"You can always comm me if you need me." Hera said. Then she kissed Kanan on the cheek and headed into The Ghost.