Chapter 24
The Jedi and Padawan stared at each other, neither did or said anything, the two just stared, before Kanan eventually repeated the single word he said before
"Ezra..."
The teen standing only a few paces away from him glared at the Jedi, he couldn't bring himself to ignite even one of the crimson blades his hands grasped tightly onto. But it wasn't the Jedi making him do so. He himself felt as though the Jedi meant something to him, but the Inquisitor filled his mind. Filled his mind with ideas the Jedi could do tricks like this. And that this Jedi could do the same. Kanan looked at Ezra, he could see the teen was confused but he didn't blame him. He took a deep breath before stepping a foot toward the Padawan.
"Ezra... I know its confusing" He began moving his arms out "But you do know me"
The teen stepped a foot backwards still glaring at the Jedi
"You've been part of the crew for almost 8..." Kanan began again, but was quickly interrupted by Ezra stomping a foot forward, causing rain from underneath his black boot to splash both the Jedi and Padawan
"Stop it!" He yelled angrily
"You DON'T know me! And I DON'T know you!"
Using the small amount of anger he built up, he quickly forgot the reason he wasn't attacking the Jedi. He grabbed one of his blades and ignited it, swiftly taking a swipe for Kanan but gingerly missed. Kanan jumped backwards from Ezra and stared at his Padawans eyes as they glare deep into him, but he doesn't glare back, he sighs before looking down, then back up through the rain at the boy
"The Inquisitors made you forget Ezra... I wouldn't lie to you..." He began stepped forward again, still with his hands beside him "I would never hurt you!" He said beginning to yell slightly "It's my job to protect you..." Kanan stopped, He sighed and dropped his head "I let this happen to you"
Ezra watched but quickly shook his head. He couldn't be telling the truth. He looked back at the Jedi through the rain as it began to die down. He reached down for the other blade attached to his belt and raised it, igniting it almost immediately. He watched as Kanan looked up at him at the two blades shimmering on the wet ground, but he doesn't react. Doesn't even speak. Ezra took this as an opportunity and charges for the Jedi, he raises both as he approaches, but, as he is only feet away from his target. A strange image of the same Jedi he was about to strike placing a warm hand on his shoulder from beside him. The padawan skidded to a stop before shaking his head quickly, his hands lowered; he looked at the Jedi standing close to him staring through the gentle rain. And for the first time his eye brows narrowed and he rose his palm. Immediately Ezra was thrown back against the brick wall of the Imperial building. The teen quickly gasped as the throw stung his chest, he closed his eyes tightly trying to ignore the pain before snapping them open to the sound of the Jedi walking toward him through the large puddles the heavy rain had caused. Ezra stared, but as the Jedi came closer toward him, the glare the padawan gave to the Jedi slowly changed to nothing but a stare, the teen could see the sadness in the Jedi's eyes, something he hadn't seen before in anyone. But he couldn't let this distract him. He once again glared at the Jedi as he continued to walk toward him, he stepped a foot forward before lunging at him, both crimson sabres behind him as he ran. As he grew closer, he brought both blades forward and swung both, but, if Kanan knew anyone. It was Ezra. He knew his style of fighting, even with the Inquisitors training and two lightsabers. He waited for exactly the right moment and jumped over the teen, as he did he took the Padawans surprise to lift his hand once again and pull one of the blades from his wounded hands, but immediately as he did, Ezra turned and attempted once again to attack the Jedi, but Kanan had more training and more skills. He raised his blade and pushed back on Ezra's, he then moved around him once again and lifted his un-occupied hand and once again pushed Ezra back against the building. This time it hurt less, but this time, Ezra was pinned against the brick. Straight after being trapped Ezra attempted to reach for the sabre he had dropped in the sudden feeling of being lunged backward, but it was almost impossible, both his still blooded hands were pinned against the brick with the rest of his body. Right now, he was helpless. Kanan breathed a small sigh before withdrawing his lightsaber and attaching it to his belt without breaking it in two, knowing he was certain to use it again. He looked back up to his padawan as he looked up from his hands and glared straight at him, Kanan stared back as he approached him. He only walked a little way before the sound of loud engines began to roar over them. Both Jedi and Padawan peered upwards, and there, was the large rebel ship. The ghost with the ramp open, with Zeb standing just on the inside avoiding the light rain. His large Lasot hand was on the metal side of the ghost supporting himself as the ship slowly descended toward the two figures beneath it. He waved a hand with a small item in before hurling it down toward Kanan. The Jedi grabbed what resembled to a lightsaber; he studied it before looking up toward Ezra figuring he would be bound to be glaring at it. But, the teens eyes were no-where near him or the sabre. The boy was glued to staring at the large ship as it began to rise once again toward the dark clouds. He watched as the ramp began to close, and the large Lasot disappeared from view, quickly after the ship reached high enough space it turned and sped toward the thick cloud above it, but this didn't stop Ezra from continuing to stare eagerly, almost completely forgetting he was still pinned against the large building. Kanan turned back from the sky after following Ezra's eyes and looking upward and looked at Ezra, but the teen continued to look at the dark sky, his yellow eyes fixed on the spot the large ship left. Kanan could tell he was staring as the teen's eyes began to narrow once again, though still staring upward.
"Ezra... you recognise them... I know you do" The Jedi began as he turned and once again looked at the sky as the rain slowly began to stop, only sending down trickles of water to hit the faces of both master and padawan.
Kanan was trying harder than ever now to get Ezra to remember who he was, but no matter what he said, or how hard he tried. Ezra wouldn't believe any of it. Whatever the Inquisitor did to him, was to strong. The teen looked down and glared straight at Kanan standing not far in front of him, rain dripping from his dark hair. Using the Jedi's distraction, he tried with much force to free one of his hands, which he did successfully. Quickly and swiftly once released he raised his palm and pulled forward one of his blades. He ignited it quickly causing the Jedi to quickly jerk his head toward the teen and lose focus on holding him against the cold brick. Kanan's hand quickly lowered and lingered over his own sabre. But stopped. He sees Ezra now looking at his other free hand, the one holding the Padawans lightsaber. Kanan looked down at it before looking back to Ezra
"You don't..." He began with a slightly sigh "You don't have to fight"
Ezra shook his head before turning away from the sabre, his eye brows still narrowed, and his free fist held together tightly.
"I need to" He said opening his eyes slightly and looked down at the single blade "Or he'll kill me" His eyes switched from the blade, to his other hand, he slowly opened it and stared at the bloody slice the Inquisitor made hours before.
Kanan quickly understood this meant the Inquisitor, and knew it was true. But couldn't help but shout out to his padawan anyway
"You really think he won't kill you anyway?"
Ezra turned back to the Jedi curiously, he clenched his fist as he lowered it to the ground, the voice of the Jedi had changed from the sad and worried tone, to anger and hate. Similar to what it had been like the first time they fought. He continued to stare as Kanan began to glare at the teen sternly, but not angrily. Ezra continued to stare before looking back down to his hands, he slowly opened both dropping the sabre to the ground, withdrawing the crimson blade. He watched the blood trickle within his fingers before looking straight back up at the Jedi. Was he... right?
The Ghost gently flew above the clouds, away from the anger that filled the air. Hera sat in the cockpit alone while her hands tightly on the 'wheel' of the large ship. She glared into the large window, ignoring everything else around her, she hardly even noticed at the door behind her slide open letting in the young mandaloriane. She walked in, helmet under her arm looking at Kanan's chair as she approached it
"Hera?" She asked looking from the chair to the Twil-ek
Hera didn't even flinch; she remained glaring at the dark sky as she flew further into it.
"Hera" Sabine said a little louder
"Shouldn't you be helping Zeb?" Hera asked in an anger filled tone
"I was... but" Sabine began
"Sabine. I know this is risky" Hera interrupted turning her head to the girl the as the anger faded
"There are going to be plenty of tie fighters out there... and that's why I need to know I've got you, Zeb and Chopper to count on. Kanan may think he can handle this on his own... But he can't" She said shaking her head
"He needs our help. And I need your trust in that we can do this Sabine..."
Sabine opened her mouth, but no words came out, she turned her head before nodding
"You can trust us Hera..."
"Good" Hera said turning back to the window
"You think we can take out a fleet of ties from a star destroyer?" Sabine asked looking from the window
Hera didn't reply as she looked at a small monitor showing multiple heat signatures coming from below her, she didn't hesitate for a second to aim the ghost down and began to head for the thick layer of cloud beneath them. Sabine quickly grabbed a hold of the dashboard as the ship dived down through the thickness, then out of what seemed nowhere. What looked like hundreds of tie fighters dashed across the sky below one giant star destroyer. Hera and Sabine stared at the small ships as they flew around and over the imperial building, far from where Kanan and Ezra stood. Neither spoke, it was silent. Until the door behind them slid open to letting Zeb practically run in
"Hera. How are we supposed to beat all of those? We're just one ship" He said almost yelling walking toward the two girls
"We can handle it" Hera said turning from the window to the two others behind her
"If Kanan even has a chance in helping Ezra, we need to at least try"
"Why couldn't we just have taken that lightsaber and left with it? You know... lead them away?" Zeb asked folding his large arms
"Kanan needed the lightsaber... not just to keep us safe... but to get Ezra to remember who he is" Hera explained turning back to the dashboard
Before Zeb had a chance to protest at this idea. Hera managed to see as several tie fighters turned and looked as if looking right at them. Hera pressed a few buttons before quickly turning to the two
"This is going to be dangerous... but if you want Ezra to come back alive. We need to do this"
Sabine and Zeb just looked at each other, before turning and running from the cockpit. Hera stared and waited for the door to close, before smiling triumphantly and turned back to the window. She leaned forward slightly glaring at the tie fighters as they began to come toward them.
"Alright boys..." She said quietly
"Let's see how good you've gotten" And with that, she pushed forward on the controls causing the ship to speed toward the array of tie fighters.
The Jedi and Padawan continued to stare at each other, neither saying a word. As Ezra stared at the Jedi, the image of what was behind him began to show through the trickle of rain as it began to stop. He squinted before walking toward Kanan, but instead of attacking, he simply walked around him looking at the stretched training ground, larger than the one the Inquisitor made him train on before. Kanan notices and follows the teens movement, turning and seeing the empty large space. Ezra looked around the area until noticing what looked like lumps of cloth in dotted areas, scorch marks filled the wet ground, and broken wooden training sticks were littered everywhere. For some reason, the sight stung Ezra horribly, as it did the Jedi beside him, but neither did anything.
"This is what the empire does Ezra..." Kanan spoke, his voice quieter than before
Ezra didn't flinch as the Jedi approached him, standing beside him unafraid that he could attack him. They both stared, looking toward the emptiness
"I trained in a place similar to this"
Ezra turned slightly and looked at Kanan. He stepped a few feet backwards causing Kanan to turn his head as he did
"Don't you remember what the empire has done?" Kanan asked hopefully "What they did to you?" "To your parents?"
Kanan looked down at the blaster/ lightsaber in his hand and threw it to Ezra causing the teen to drop the crimson blade and grab the other, he studied it before glancing back up to the Jedi, but he had already turned away from him. Ezra once again looked down at looked at the sabre before he turned away from the Jedi, he looked at the single sabre he still clutched tightly within his hand, he ran a blooded finger along it before turning his free hand over to see the palm, but he didn't just look at the slash that Pau'an made. He looked at the litter of scars that filled his thin arm.
"You're not one of them Ezra..." Kanan spoke gently
Ezra grasped his hands together tightly. He lowered the sabre and was about to turn back to the Jedi when...
"Well... well" Came a voice from the side of the imperial building
Both Jedi and padawan both looked up and turned to the place the voice came from. A tall familiar Pau'an walked slowly toward the two, his hands beside him, one holding onto the handle of his double sided lightsaber, he grinned evilly through the blood as it continued to drip from his head. Ezra stepped a foot nervously backwards, but despite this, glared angrily at the figure, as did the Jedi behind him. The teen glared, but didn't dare attack; he knew the Pau'an could beat him easily. He just stood. And waited. The Inquisitor walked beside the padawan and stopped, glaring straight at the Jedi not far in front of him. Kanan left his lightsaber on his belt as he glared at the Pau'an. It was if he was waiting for something. The Inquisitor continued to grin as he placed a cold hand on the teen's shoulder, who continued to look in the opposite direction, away from the Jedi
"You've done well boy" The Inquisitor said sharply
Ezra shuddered, but continued to remain still and not say anything. He peered down at the lightsaber in his hand. He stared down at it, concentrating hard as if he waited for something to happen. His grasp on the metal handle tightened ever so slightly, he closed his eyes tightly as he tried to remember the Jedi. He could sense the Jedi was telling the truth about what he had said. But he had to figure it out for himself. The Pau'an and Jedi continued to talk behind him, but the padawan shut it all out, he focused as best he could, until eventually... There they were, the memories the Inquisitor had flushed away. From the first meeting with Kanan and the crew. To them trusting him enough to follow a vision. His grasp grew tighter around the lightsaber as he lifted his head slightly, opening his now slightly watery eyes. He managed to finally hear the Inquisitor say
"Well boy?" The Pau'an began "What are you waiting for?"
Ezra remained in place before looking up and looking straight forward
"Kill the Jedi boy"
Ezra frowned before turning slightly to the sight of the Jedi, but just out of sight of the Inquisitor. Kanan didn't say a word; he stared at the teen as he stared back. The handled lightsaber beside ignited quickly. The Inquisitor lost his smile as the blade was blue; he quickly noticed the change in sabre then narrowed his eyes swiftly. He removed his hand from the boys shoulder leaving Ezra to stare at the Jedi
"There's something you forgot..." He said "You tried to tear me apart from them" Ezra said looking away from Kanan "But I know now that there is a bond that you can't break... not in me..."
Kanan let out a small grin as the Inquisitor took a step backwards as Ezra turned to face him
"A Padawan and master"
With that, he raised the bright blue blade and attempted to strike at the Pau'an, but the Inquisitor was quick. He jumped backwards away from the boy who grinned triumphantly at his success in breaking through the Inquisitors manipulation. The Inquisitor glared angrily as Kanan ran beside Ezra and ignited his blade. Together, they both stood, lightsaber in hand waiting the for the Pau'an to once again charge at them. Ezra looked up at his master who returned the glance, he watched as Ezra turned back to face the Inquisitor, his bright sapphire blue eyes shimmering in the moonlight as it begun to shine through the thick clouds.
Thanks for reading Chapter 24!
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Sorry for the delay! Trying to find WIFI on holiday is annoying as hell -_- I also ate american sweets 'candy' and they made me sick xD So that was fun...
I think (I'm sorry) there is still going to be a few more chapters xD We went to some tourist site thing, And I got SO inspired to make a BIG section of this chapter... So I decided to just leave this chapter on yet another cliff hanger
OVER 200 REVIEWS GUYS!1! This is insane! They're all so wonderful and supportive, I can't help but smile every time I read everyone! . You're all amazing for coming to read every chapter, favouriting... following... UGH. JUST THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
So. Anyway.
Until next time, Have a good one :)