Star Wars Rebels: The Journey Part 2 (Short Story)
Continued:
Several hours later, Ezra felt bad about making the three young Children continue to travel. He had found some details about the three Children between their mourning their parents and Old Orsa. Aseena was the youngest at Four and a half while Corvin and Mavisee were both just over five years old. They cried less now, for all three were tired but they walked onward. Never asking Ezra to carry them. He had no idea how he was going to take care of three very young Children. Not having any younger Brothers and Sisters, he had no experience how to even really talk to them. Nearing another Clearing he stopped. Each of the Three Stepped Closer. "Ships?" Aseena said with a little curiosity. Ezra nodded, reaching down to clasp Orsa's Lightsaber that he had borrowed. Knowing that the Old Jedi Woman would not mind him using it to protect the Three Children. Pointing over to a nearby Tree.
"You Three go hide behind that Tree. I am going to check those Ships out." Ezra told them firmly and they reluctantly walked over to the Tree. Dropping the Backpack, he walked into the Clearing holding the Lightsaber in his Right hand. Noticing that they both were Imperial Ships Types. One was a smaller Viper Class Lambda Shuttle and the Larger one sort of looked like a Lambda Cargo Shuttle. But it was Shiny Black with converted double wings. Stepping up the ramp of the Larger Shuttle, he immediately knew that these were the Inquisitors Ships. Searching the Shuttle, he shook his head. "I do not think the Empire gave this Ship to the Inquisitors. For one it has been changed into more Luxurious." He whispered, then heard something behind him. In one fluid movement he activated his Lightsaber and saw a Light Green Tinted Protocol Droid shrinking back from him. "Who are you?' Ezra demanded and the Droid pressed itself against the Bulkhead.
"I am See Nineteen Protocol Droid Human Relations, series 4 alpha 6." The Droid said staring at Ezra with it's projection lighted eyes. "Who are you Sir? Are you aquanted with Master Kurge and Mistress Hiseet?" It asked and Ezra lowered his Lightsaber.
"Yes unfortunately I am, though briefly." Deactivating the Blade, Ezra gestured around the Ship. "Was this their Ship?" He asked the Droid and it seemed to hesitate.
"In a way Sir. The Shadow was originally owned by Governor Huvak of Correllia. But Mistress Hiseet wished a better Ship then what the Empire had provided. They terminated Governor Huvak and acquired the Shadow." C-19 told him and then looked down at the Restraining Bolt. "I am the Navigation, Pilot, Cook and General Interior Housekeeper of the Shadow." The Droid continued to look at the Restraining Bolt and Ezra suspected that the Inquisitors put it there to keep it from protesting them stealing the Ship. With a flick of his hand, Ezra used the Force and removed the Bolt.
"Okay well C-19, I need this Ship. You can stay or there is another Ship right outside. You can take it and go wherever you want." Ezra told the Droid and it stared at him.
"You..you are giving me a choice Sir?" C-19 asked it sounded like it was shocked. Ezra nodded.
"Yes I am." Ezra went to the ramp and told the Children they could come aboard. Then as they walked up the ramp, he checked the two Staterooms. Both were immaculately cleaned. He suspected that it was C-19's doing. Making sure there were no hidden surprises inside, he went back to the Main Cabin. C-19 was still there. Ezra looked down at the Children. "In there is a bed, you three can go in there and rest." He was surprised that none of them protested, from what he remembered when he was that age he hated to take a nap. Preferring to remain up even though he was tired. Instead the Three stumbled towards the room and went inside. C-19 watched them with idle curiosity. Going to the Cockpit, Ezra activated the Engines and rose the Ramp. The Droid entered and Ezra looked back at it. "Are you staying or going?" He asked and the Droid sat down in the Co-Pilot seat.
"I wish to remain and serve you and the three Small Ones, Sir." C-19 said and Ezra smiled.
"Glad to have you along C-19. You said something about you can Cook?" Ezra asked and the Droid seemed to brighten.
"Yes Sir. I was programmed to be a Class A One Chef to be exact." The Droid responded. Ezra glanced back at the Stateroom.
"Good because in about five hours those three are going to wake up and be very hungry. Do you think you could make them something from the Galley?" Ezra asked and the Droid stood. Heading aft.
"Of course Sir. The Galley is fully stocked." With that the Droid left and Ezra flew the Ship upwards. Once in orbit, he scanned the Ship and found no Imperial Tracking devices of any kind. There were no Tracking Devices at all. Not even ones that would have been placed by the Owner to ensure no one stole his Ship. He would ask C-19 about that when the Droid returned. The problem at the moment he had no idea where to go. Kanan was right he could not return to Lothal, not with the Empire still obsessing over slaughtering all Jedi and any Potential Force Users. Then there was a HUGE problem, he had no idea how to deal with 3 very young Children.
"I just had my eighteenth birthday, how the Feir'Feking am I to basically take care of three Children?" Ezra mumbled, really wishing that Hera was here. She had a motherly knack and probably would have a general sense on how to raise them. Hell if he could have someone here it would be Sabine. If he was going to wish for someone to be here.
"You are doing fine." Kanan said and Ezra glanced over to see the transparent Man sitting in the Co-Pilot seat. "Their Parents are happy that the Children are with you since they cannot." His Friend told him and Ezra scold at him.
"Kanan I have no idea how or for that matter teach them the ways of the Force?" Ezra said and Kanan laughed, shaking his ghostly head.
"I did not know how to train you. In time you will learn and at the same time they will learn. Might I make a small suggestion though, wait to begin until you find a place that is safe before you start training them. They need time to mourn and become accustomed to you." The older man advised and Ezra could fully accept that. He himself when his Parents were taken from him it had taken him weeks to realize that he had to take care of himself and he was not much older then the Children were. Before he could ask Kanan where he should go, he noticed that Kanan once more had faded away.
"You have to stop doing that." Ezra muttered and began to ponder where they could go. C-19 had returned and resat in the other Seat.
"The meal will be ready as soon as the little ones arise." C-19 announced and Ezra could swear he heard a bit of pride in the Droids tone. He then asked the Protocol Droid about why the Ship did not have a tracking device. After a lengthy response that shocked Ezra to the core, he shook his head.
"You are not to tell the Children that. Make something else up. I do not want them to know that the previous Rightful Owner was a perverted Pedophile." Ezra ordered wishing he did not know now. It seemed that Governor Huvak had the Ship built so he could sneak to Ryloth and would relieve his desires on very young Twil'ek Girls. Not something that he wanted the Children to even think about. Or worse ask him anything about it. Sadly Ezra believed that Huvak deserved his fate that he had received from the Inquisitors. Though they probably did not care and only executed him for not relinquishing his Ship to them. Exhaling he again tried to think of a possible place to go. The Droid interrupted him.
"Sir I did not inform EX Master Kurge or Ex Mistress Hiseet of several additions that Governor Huvak applied to the Shadow. I believe that you should be made aware of these additions." C-19 said and Ezra looked at the Droid. "Currently there is a Secret Safe within the Aft Stateroom that contains 53 Thousand Credits. Also the Governor had Stealth Material interlaced with the Hull so that it could become undetectable if the Running Illumination is turned off." Ezra listened as the Droid completely informed him about the Ship.
"Can you access the Safe?" Ezra asked, the Droid stood and after a minute came back with a stack of Credit Chips. "Well that will help a lot. Now all we have to do is find a place that will be safe enough for us." The Droid sat again.
"Sir might I make a suggestion?" C-19 asked and Ezra nodded. "My Previous Master before Governor Huvak was a Man of many trades. He always told me that when trying to find a place to go, look to your skill sets and an answer will come. So Sir what can you do?" The Droid asked and Ezra smiled.
"Any chance your Previous Master might have been a Jedi, because that is what someone with the Force would suggest." Ezra turned back to the Terminal and instead of Locations, began to look for Opportunities that were posted within the Holonet Classifieds. After slipping by several, such as a Moisture Farm on Tantooine. He found one that made him laugh out loud. "Okay if Sabine ever finds out that I went there she will want to kick my ass from one side of the Planet to the other." He said smiling broadly.
"Did you locate something Sir?" C-19 asked and Ezra nodded.
"Yes I have. We are going to Mandalore. You were right, look for a Skill Set that can basically hide us in plain sight. When I was younger a Old Net Fisherman taught me how to Fish, though he retired shortly after. I believe I can remember how to do it." Ezra set the Navigation System and after a minute pulled back the Hyperspace Levers. The Shadow streaked away.
Lothal: Six Months later
Throwing a Data Pad onto her Desk, Sabine growled. "When did I become a desk bound Administrator?" She stated herself, dropping another Pad onto the Stack. On the Desk sat several Data Pads, each one had details that had to be addressed. Ryder Azadi had the idea of making Sabine the Commander of the Militia and now she seemed to be reading and writing reports other then anything else. She could almost imagine her Ass tripling in size. In free moments or even when she was reading something, her thoughts would wander towards Ezra. Across from her Desk in her Office one of her newly finished paintings hung and she would glance at it from time to time. Chopper who seemed to holo record everything had recorded when she had put her arms around Ezra and his arms around her on Concorde Dawn. So she had used that image to paint them holding each other, minus her helmet. She had not seen it at the time, but Ezra had a certain glow in his expression that she had not really noticed until she painted it. Now she did and it made her miss him even more. Staring at the Painting she barely heard the knock on her Office Door. "Come in and if you have another Feir'Feking Report, leave it in the Recycling Bin by the door." She stated and the door whooshed open. Hera stepped in and chuckled.
"No I do not have any Reports, sorry. Unfortunately I have a huge stack of them waiting for me in my Office." Hera said, flopping into the Chair across from Sabine. "The Good News is that we are up to four Squadrons of X-Wings, the bad news is I have a whole new class of Potential Pilots to train." The Twil'ek stated and exhaled. Touching her growing stomach tenderly. No one had noticed the small bulge yet, but in time they would. "Oh and I have some bad news. Hondo and Vizago are stuck on Bespin, their Ship blew a Coolant Seal and will not be able to continue searching until next week." Sabine put down the Data Pad she was looking at and frowned.
"This sucks Hera. It royally sucks. I should be out there looking for him, not stuck her behind a desk feeling my ass grow." Sabine mournfully stated, not pleased that with Hondo and Vizago not searching it was down to just Ketsu and she was taking a short reprieve to run some Cargo. "There has to be more searching for him. Not just Hondo, Vizago and Ketsu when they all have time." She wiped a tear from her cheek.
"In time there will be, as soon as the Empire is not a threat to Lothal. I will start searching." Hera told her and Sabine could not help but think that would not help much.
"I miss him so much. All I want at most is just perhaps to know he is alive and well. That he...I do not know, just something, anything." Sabine pleaded and when a message pinged on her Terminal she grumbled. Believing that it was another Dikut request from Ryder for an update on the Capital Ship Repairs. Reaching over she opened the Digital Message and a series of numbers appeared. "What the...?" She whispered and Hera looked at the Screen.
"What is that?" Hera stared at the numbers and could not make head or Lekku of what it was.
"You got me. Other then you, Zeb, Ryder and my Family. No one else has access to my Personal Messaging on the Holonet." Sabine said and Hera winced. None of those would dare send some type of joke to Sabine. Not now, not unless they wanted a broken nose. The Mandalorian Girl was in no mood for Jokes. Though Hera believed if Ezra was here, Sabine would delight in any type of jocularity. As long as it was from him. Sabine stared at the mystery and smiled.
"Uhm Sabine, shouldn't you finish those Reports?" Hera asked with a small smile. Thinking instead that this was just what Sabine needed to take her mind off everything. A puzzle to be solved.
The Small Village of Usurat. Northern Coast of Mandalore Six Months later
Sitting at the Oval Diner Table, Ezra now Raze Ridgers stared at the Message he really wanted to send to Sabine. But if he sent it through the Holonet, she could trace it with no problem. He could not risk that yet. The Children were all taking their Bathes with C-19's help. All three had finally Two Weeks after arriving been able not to cry themselves to sleep at night and that was a blessing in itself. They also loved C-19's cooking, which Ezra thanked the Droid constantly for. He himself could burn Precooked Space Waffles so having someone that Cooked as good as C-19 did was wonderful. The Droid also cleaned and with a download from the Holonet, taught the Children their primaries. In route to Mandalore Ezra had told the Children that if asked by anyone, that they were War Orphans and that he was a close Family friend that had taken them in. They were to refer to him as Uncle Raze, not Ezra. The Children were reluctant at first but fell into the role easily enough. "Is there a problem Sir?" C-19 asked putting three Towels into a Hamper to be washed with the other Clothes tomorrow. "You have barely indulged in your evening meal." The Droid indicated the food on his plate and Ezra suspected if he did not eat soon, it would upset the Droid. Smiling he spooned some of the Buttery Greens into his mouth.
"No the food is great as usual. It is just I really would like to send a Message to Sabine, but I need a way that she or anyone else cannot trace back to here." Ezra told the Droid and once again the Droid had a solution.
"Sir did you know that us Protocol Droids can transmit to each other in a Binary Code. One that is untraceable by any known means." C-19 informed him and Ezra looked at him with confusion. So the Droid proudly explained. "I can send a Binary Code through the Holonet Receivers and address the Message to be accessed through Sabine Wren's Private Messaging Account. That is if you Know he Account Numbers." Ezra nodded. "Then it would be relatively easy to do so. Though she would have to have a Protocol Droid download the Code and translate it for her." Ezra smiled broadly and was about to have C-19 send the whole message that he had written. The Droid looked at the Small Screen. "Oh I am sorry Sir, but at most it can only be five words long." With a sigh, then he smiled Ezra knew exactly what he wanted to send. Telling the Droid it turned and stared at the Holonet Monitor in the corner. A second later C-19 turned back. "Message Sent." It announced and Ezra smiled with delight, then he frowned. Wondering if he should have perhaps worded that differently. But it was too late now.
Lothal: Two Days Later
With an aggravated grunt, Sabine stood from behind the Terminal. She had been unable to decipher the Numbers to make any type of sense. She had tried different variations of Alliance and Imperial Codes she knew and even a Child's decoder Toy and nothing. Sabine was going to quit after the first day, but then it dawned on her. None of the others she contacted had no idea about the Message. So that left only one person that it could possibly be and with that assumption she was determined to know if Ezra had finally tried to contact her. "You know it would have been nice you Dikut. If you sent me a way to translate this?" She growled in exasperation wanting to take a break, go to the Exercise Room and beat the stuffing out of the Punching Bag. Imagining it was Ezra for putting her through this hell. Picking up her cup of Caff, she noticed the cup was empty. Tapping the intercom. "AC-7, could you bring me another cup of Caff?" She asked and a minute later a Silver Colored Protocol Droid assistant entered, carrying a tray with a Cup and Pitcher of hot Caff. "Gods bless you AC-7." The Droid said nothing as it set the Tray down inadvertently stared at the Screen.
"Excuse me Mistress Sabine, but why is there Protocol Binary Code on your Terminal Screen?" AC-7 asked and Sabine stared up at the Silver Droid with her mouth gaping open.
"What was that? Wait is that what that is?" Sabine asked frantically and the Droid looked at the Number Sequence.
"Yes Mistress. Would you like me to download the code and provide you with a translation?" The Droid asked and Sabine quickly nodded. Excitement flowed through her, standing as the Droid stared at the Screen for barely a second and then blinked its Projection eyes once. "The Translation is as follows. MISS YOU. CYAR'IKA. EZRA. I am sorry but that is all of the Message." Sabine dropped back into her Chair staring wide eyed, she then smiled broadly. "Would you like for me to reply and send back a Message?" The Droid asked and Sabine began to think of a long message she wanted to send. Mainly she wanted to know where the Feir'Feking was he. But knew he would not tell her for the reasons that Hera had told her several weeks ago. "Though be aware it can only be under five words." Sabine instantly knew what she wanted to send. Afterwards her desperate need to know where he was she asked the Droid if the Message to or from could be traced. "Unfortunately Mistress Protocol Droid Binary Code could be transmitted untraceable from anywhere. I am sorry."
"That is alright. Can you keep this a secret and remain connected to my Messaging Account, so he and I can keep sending Messages?" Sabine asked and AC-7 did as she asked, then departed. "Call me Cyar'ika will you. Well that makes you my Ez'ika." She whispered with delight. Now really yearning to see him again.
Mandalore: A Day Later
When Ezra received the reply, he felt like doing Cartwheels and back flips. "By the Force! She called me Ez'ika! Do you know what that means C-19? She does, she does oh by the Force she does." He babbled excitingly.
"Who does, Da...Uncle?" Aseena asked wiping the dryness from her eyes, holding a Gold Small Blanket against her. Corvin and Mavisee were right behind her, both yawning. He had inadvertently woke them in his excitement.
"Oh I am sorry." Ezra said realizing that it was past all of their bedtimes. That all three were contently sleeping and he had awoken them. Sitting down the three joined him at the table. "It was just that I finally got a message back from Sabine and I got a little excited." He told them. "Why don't you all go back to bed. Tomorrow is an early day and you all need your sleep." He told them and they slowly went back to their room. Back in their room, Aseena began to cry again. Both Corvin and Mavisee went to console her.
"What wrong Asee?" Mavisee asked and Aseena hugged the other to her.
"I..almost called Uncle Ezra Daddy." Aseena said sniffing and both the others instantly understood. They themselves had almost did the same thing a couple of times before. Barely stopping themselves from doing that.
"We know. I almost said it before." Mavisee said and Corvin nodded.
"He isn't..he isn't our Daddy." Aseena wailed and Mavisee held her tightly to her. Corvin now hugged them both, tears also streaming down his cheeks.
"He cares and loves us like our Daddies and Mommies did." Corvin stated sniffling as well. "Maybe he is our Daddy now?" Aseena stared at her basically adoptive brother and with her bottom lip quivering nodded slowly. The door opened and all three turned towards the door.
"Hey you three should be in bed." Ezra said smiling and before he knew what was happening all three lunged towards him. He knelt and they all hugged him, crying uncontrollably. "What is wrong?" He asked in concern. Aseena was the one to respond.
"Can..are you...Daddy!" Aseena wailed hugging Ezra tightly to her and the others did as well. Ezra eyes went wide and his mouth gaped open, then he smiled. Wondering how this happened, though he did not mind it at all and he thought earlier when he found out Sabine referred to him as Ez'ika was glorious. Being called Daddy seemed to be even better.
They had a routine now, Ezra would spend the day fishing the Ocean pulling in his Nets. Others in other Repulsor Boats did the same. It was hot, tiring work but Ezra found it very rewarding. After the days work, he would go home and have dinner with...well his family. Then spend a few hours teaching three excitable Children the fundamentals of using the Force. Making sure to spend equal time with each one afterwards. When they went to bed, which required him tucking in each one with a kiss on the forehead and a hug. He himself would collapse onto his own bed. Overly thanking C-19 for all the droid did during the day. From babysitting, teaching Math, the Alphabet and Reading to all three. The Weekend was a totally different routine. The Children would awaken Ezra by jumping on his bed, wanting to spend as much time with him as possible on his time off. This went on for almost two years.
Two Years Four Months:
Walking through the Gated Wooden Fence, Ezra tried to ignore his neighbor to the left. "Hey Raze." The Man said almost running over to the Fence that separated their places. "Hey Raze come over here for a minute." The larger older man ordered and Ezra grudgingly walked over to the Waist high Fence.
"Hello Mosvat how was your day out there?" Ezra asked hoping to divert the conversation to the others day of Fishing. It did not work.
"It was passable. But that was not why I called you over." Mosvat said smiling broadly. In truth Ezra liked the Man, he was a perfect neighbor and so was Mosvat's Wife Gena. The Older Woman had on several occasions did girly things with Aseena and Mavisee. Such as have a Tea Party, which Corvin had no interest in. "You know Gena's Sister is not a bad cook." The older Man stated and Ezra rolled his eyes. Again one of his Neighbors Slash Friends were trying to set him up with a relative. "She would make a great Mother to your little ones." Mosvat added with a smile. He himself adored all three of them and would not mind having them as his Nieces and Nephew. At first though Gena was convinced that Raze Ridgers could not take care of three young Children even with the aide of a Protocol Droid. Wanting Mosvat to ask about them adopting the three so that Raze was no longer burdened so badly. Mosvat convinced her that Raze was doing fine and the Children appeared to be extremely happy with their Uncle, later Father.
"I do not think I have time to even think about that right now." Ezra told him and Mosvat shook his head. "Also I have someone in mind already." He then again tried to change the subject. "Today I caught Some Yellow Fins, how about you and Gena come over the first day of our time off and we grill them?" He suggested and Mosvat smiled broadly. Yellow Fins were a rare treat and it somewhat confused him how Raze seemed to always be able to catch a good portion of them.
"Sounds good. I'll have Gena make some of her Grunda Salad." Mosvat now thinking about the extraordinarily tasting Yellow Fins, he started to walk away and then realized that he had totally forgotten that he was trying to set Raze up with his Sister in Law. Turning he grimaced, Raze had made a hasty retreat into his House. "Bantha Farts! He did it again." He chuckled and went into his own house and his Gena was upset that he was unable to pawn her Sister off on someone.
To be Continued