"I can't believe it..." Luca said shocked, "Ezra...he..."
"He just left his master? Why would a vision cause him to leave his master?" Dhara interrupted.
"I can't believe that he'd do such a thing!" Dhara exclaimed.
"Me neither. Doesn't he know that there are padawans out there who didn't get a choice on leaving their master or not!? That they had to watch their masters die?" " Luca added.
"Yeah, and he does know he could have just talked to his master about it?" Mersaides said shaking her head.
"Would all of you just knock it off!" Star exclaimed suddenly, "In case you didn't hear, he said that he lost his parents when he was seven! Seven for the force's sake! Seven! He said he tried to change the vision. For eight years he lived by himself. You couldn't expect him to just all of the sudden trust everybody and telling them his feelings! He's new to all this and you should be ashamed of yourselves talking about him like that...Especially you Luca,...after he saved our lives and this is how you repay him!" Star continued in a softer but stern tone, "By talking about him behind his back? I'm going to go talk to him. The rest of you...just...just don't bother us until you can say only nice things." Star said as she went towards the dorms.
"She's right." said Max quietly even though he wasn't one of the one's accused of being rude, "Ezra saved me. I lost my way for a long time, thinking that the force only brought pain and sorrow...But here he is, proof that there is still hope...He's like a spark, starting a fire in all of us."
Ezra caught bits and pieces of what the others were saying in the other room. Were they right? Should he have stayed? But if he did stay Kanan would have died... Then he heard footsteps, light and gentle, only one person on this ship could walk like that and that was Star.
Star who was gentle and kind, and made Ezra's heart skip a beat every time he saw her. Star who was beautiful, whose name matches the beauty of the night sky. Woah, where'd that come from? Ezra laughed inwardly at his mind wandering off to think of Star.
"Ezra?..." Star called softly from the other side of the door.
Ezra looked to the door but didn't answer...How could he answer?! He'd basically just told all of them why he left, who he was, and...and they knew everything now. How was he supposed to face them? How was he supposed to face all the questions?
"Ezra..." Star called again, "may I come in?"
Still no reply.
"Alright, I'm coming in." She sighed as she opened the door and came to sit by Ezra.
"I'm sorry about your parents...and you having to leave your master. It couldn't have been easy." Star sympathized quietly.
"Thanks, but it shouldn't be your concern." Ezra sighed turning his head slightly away from her.
"Ezra," Star warned, "of course it's my concern. I don't just care about my brother, but also you, Mersaides, Dhara, and even Max who I've hardly known for a day! The point is, is that we are a team now. We never discussed it and made it official, but it just sort of happened, and in a team the team members take care of each other. In many ways a team is like a family..." Star continued by taking Ezra's hands in hers.
Ezra looked up at her, a tear running down his cheek. Star couldn't see the tear or Ezra's moist eyes, but she could sense the sadness and sorrow rolling off of him in waves.
"Just remember that we're here for you. We don't need a whole explanation or anything, but we'll be here for you. Ready to comfort you and help you if need be." Star finished. She got up to leave only to realize Ezra hadn't released his hold on her hand. "Ezra?..."
"Star,...I...I've been meaning to tell you that I kind of like you." Ezra sighed nervously.
"You l-like me? But what is there to like? I'm a blind girl...I need help to just about everything, I mean the force can only go so far toward helping me." Star blushed, not understanding how he could find her attractive.
"I like you because you're beautiful. Not just outside but inside too. I wish you weren't blind so you could see yourself...I mean, you look like an angel!" Ezra said pulling her gently so that she sat back down.
"An...an angel...I..." Star stuttered, touched by his words.
Ezra looked down, blushing, she didn't feel the same way did she? Then he felt her gentle hand under his chin lifting his face up until it was even with hers so that her lips could meet his. His eyes widened with shock as he realized what she was doing, then he closed them and enjoyed the moment.
"Hey, Ezra...woah, um, this is awkward." Mersaides said as she walked in on the couple.
Ezra and Star quickly scooted away from each other, blushing as they both looked at their feet.
"Well, I just crossed to say that we're reaching Tarkin Town. Dhara figured you could use some more time to yourself so she told me to tell you she'd land the ship." Mersaides explained, "Now if you mind I'm going to go and try to forget I ever saw that."
"Mersaides, wait!" Star exclaimed. Mersaides turned to look at her. "Just don't tell my brother." Star added.
Mersaides have star a thumbs up but shook her head. When Luca found out...So help Ezra.
They'd reached Tarkin Town and brought the chip to Clyde. He then had the chip decoded while they restocked their ship with supplies and refuel. Then he gave them their next mission. To attack and destroy a small Empirial TIE fighter base. Simple enough...or so it seemed.
Ezra put Dhara on flying the Aelita, Max to stay on board and man the tail gun if need be, Star hold the escape route, and Luca and Mersaides would go with Ezra to plant bombs all over the base.
"Alright, Luca you take the west wing, Mersaides take the east wing, and I'll take the main office." Ezra commanded.
"You got it!" Luca said as he took off.
"On it!" Mersaides answered as she headed in the east wing.
Ezra watched the two leave, a smug smile forming. His new team were really starting to work together and not question orders. They had all joined and did whatever he said since he owned the ship but they were really starting to loosen up and treat him more as a leader than a ruler.
Then he continued on his mission. Planting the bombs in the main office, which was much larger than he thought it would be. As he was leaving he noticed a door that opened to a lift. There was a second story! They weren't planning on a second story, he'd have to act fast if he were going to get it covered too.
When got to the second floor, which was actually more like the roof, his heart dropped all the way to the ground with dread. Mersaides and Dhara were pinned against the railing by the Inquisitor using the force, Luca was being suffocated in mid air, and Star was on the ground her hand pressed against her heavily bleeding side from where the Inquisitor had stabbed her, Max was right beside her but semi-conscious.
It only took a moment for Ezra to collect himself and pull out his lightsaber. Running toward the Inquisitor ready to fight and protect his friends. The Inquisitor released his hold on Luca, Dhara, and Mersaides and turned his attention to Ezra, he to drawing his lightsaber. The two sabers clashed, fiery sparks falling every time they hit.
"Dhara! Mersaides! If you can get Luca and Star aboard the Aelita! See if you can get Max up too!" Ezra said as he kept the Inquisitor busy. The bombs were set on a timer so they would activate in about two minutes and blast the place to shreads. And if they didn't get out of here now they'd be blasted to bits too!
After about a minute they reappeared inside the Aelita. Max and Mersaides were at the side door waiting for Ezra.
"Come on Ezra!" Max shouted desperately.
Ezra tried to get the Inquisitor off of him long enough for him to get to the others.
"Ezra!" Mersaides warned.
Ezra heard the ticking of the bombs, the whole place was about to blow!
"Guys, close the door!" Ezra yelled as he pushed the Inquisitor off of him and ran toward the Aelita.
"No!" Max protested, obviously not wanting to leave Ezra behind.
Just then the Inquisitor caught up with Ezra, keeping him from proceeding toward the others. Ezra focused hard causing the Aelita's door to close and the Inquisitor to be pushed back several feet. Then the bombs started going off and Ezra ran towards the Aelita, jumping off the side of the facility just as the Emperial base blew up in one big explosion.
The blast shot Ezra even further forward, knocking him out with the heat and sudden burst of speed nearly snapping his neck. About that time Luca had managed to get the door to the Aelita open to see Ezra falling, unconscious, to the ground. He caught Ezra with the force and lifted him into the Aelita.
Inside the Aelita red lights were flashing and an alarm was going off.
"Dhara!" Luca exclaimed, "What's going on?"
"The engine is overheated and is probably filled with smoke, not to mention all the external damage she's taken on. Looks like there's a leak in fuel line too. We need to land now, but we're too close to several Empire bases. I can try to get her to go a little farther but that'll increase the likelihood of crash landing." Dhara informed.
"Get us as far as you can!" Luca ordered now holding Ezra's limp form.
Ezra was covered in burns and had a few cuts most likely from metal that got blown everywhere in the explosion. Across his eye was a mark that caused Luca to feel even worse for Ezra, a mark that he'd seen on his own sister years ago, a lightsaber burn right across Ezra's left eye. It went from just above his eyebrow to just below his eye and Luca wasn't sure if it would heal or not...
The next day Ezra finally woke, and bolted upright when he realized he wasn't back the Emperial base. Though he calmed down once he realized he was in his bed on the Aelita. He was sore, but at least he was alive.
Tentatively he climbed out of his bed and stumbled into the control room where the others were sitting on the benches against the wall in dead silence.
"Guys?" Ezra panted, leaning heavily against the doorway, "Is-is Star okay?" He continued in a hoarse voice.
Luca and Max were instantly up and caught Ezra as dizziness overtook him and he almost collapsed to the ground. They helped him to the nearest chair then sat down with the others.
"I'm fine Ezra." Star said gently moving to where she was sitting closest to him.
Ezra nodded weakly looking over the rest of his team as if to make sure they were okay too.
"The rest of us are fine. The Aelita's a little worse for wear as Dhara had to crash land her in a fairly remote area. We managed to fix a few things this morning when daylight came, and we managed to get a message to Clyde about our condition." Luca informed.
"The engine's completely gone, practically burnt up in the explosion and getting us out this far. The exterior is pretty bad too, most of the siding was burnt or ripped off. I managed to fix the fuel line, but it's a temporary fix. Dhara only noticed the major problems. Once I got in there and started working on things I saw a ton of problems. It'll probably take a week to two or three weeks to finish with repairs. That is once Clyde picks us up and if he'll help us." Max added.
"Since when did you become a mechanic?" Ezra asked, stunned.
"Um, I don't know, I guess I just paid a lot of attention whenever I saw someone fixing something. That sort of stuff interests me." Max grinned.
"How's your eye?" Luca interrupted, "I meant to ask you when you woke. When we got you out of the explosion it looked like the Inquisitor's lightsaber had scratched it."
"It's fine actually. I didn't even notice." Ezra said running his hand gently over his eye.
"I used force healing to hopefully prevent you from losing your eyesight in that eye, but it's definitely going to scar." Star added.
"Thanks, guys, I guess I owe you one." Ezra blushed.
"No, we owe you one." Mersaides said sternly.
"Yeah, if it weren't for you we would have more than likely been killed by the Inquisitor." Dhara continued.
"They're right, if you hadn't have forced the door closed on the Aelita we probably would have all passed out due to lack of oxygen and the engine would have been shot right then and there instead of a the way out here." Max added.
"And Star and I owe you even more." Luca said with uncertainty, not in Ezra but in himself, "This would be the second time you've saved us."
"Well, you guys took care of me while I was out so why don't we just call it even. Besides...someone told me that in a team the team members take care of each other, and that they are a lot like a family. Well, as the leader of this family it's my responsibility to keep the rest of you safe, and that's exactly what I did." Ezra said, turning to look at Star who was blushing and looking down shyly.
"Oh, and Luca, I like Ezra and he likes me..." Star said quietly. Then after sensing Luca's shock she added with a smirk, "Deal with it."
"I...Well, I don't have anything against him. I mean he saved both our lives twice so I think he's trustworthy enough for you." Luca said slightly shaken.
Ezra yawned. "Well, I'm going to go back to bed. You guys seem to be taking care of everything by yourselves." Ezra said as he stood and stretched, his head much clearer now than it had been when he first woke.
"Here, eat this before you go back to bed. You will need to eat something to keep your strength up." Star said as she handed Ezra a yogan.
"Thanks, Star." Ezra replied as he took the yogan and made his way to his room.
He was really proud and satisfied with his crew. They had not only rescued him but they had taken care of the ship and contacted Clyde as well! And Star could force heal? He'd have to ask Kanan...about that... He forgot that he couldn't go back, at least he didn't think he could go back yet. Ezra made his way to the closest mirror and looked in it, meeting out a sigh of disappointment. His reflection still looked the same...still looked like he did when he left...So he still had to wait...
So this chapter is 2,699 words long, the longest chapter so far! This is the last chapter before the time skip. Next chapter will be about a year into the future and will bring the Ghost crew and Ezra gradually back together. There will be slightly increased Ezra x Star and I honestly don't care if those of you who like Ezra x Sabine hate it because it Ezra likes Sabine but she shows no interest in him and I think she sees him more like an annoying brother than a potential boyfriend. Besides Ezra is shorter than Sabine and that would just make a really awkward relationship.
Don't forget! Time skip next chapter!
Question:
What do you think of the Ezra x Sabine pairing and how can you back up what you think about it? (Give examples of it through episodes)