Hellow everyone. Chapter 17 is up which is the first chapter in part 2. Therefore there has been a time skip on five and half month and everyone is healed. We hope you like it. We have seen the request about Ahsoka and it will come up in future chapters.
The sky of Lothal was a chaotic mess one late evening; as imperial ships were closing in on the Ghost, shooting at the ship mercilessly. Several imperials were on the the Rebel's ship tail. One lucky TIE fighter got shot at the rear end of the Ghost, This caused the interior of the ship to be exposed to the toxic smell of burning metal.
"OUR TAIL'S BEEN SHOT! This will limit our maneuverability so we don't go crashing down!" Hera shouted as more TIE fighters emerged from the oncoming Star Destroyer. The TIE's were firing rounds left and right as they attempted to circle the Ghost. This stunt hinted the possibility that the imperial pilots were under orders to take the ship captive, rather than shoot them down completely. While Hera managed to avoid them she feared what would happen if they did not soon find a way out. The thought of Kanan and Ezra taken captive by the empire again was chilling: she had no doubt that the Inquisitor was behind this insane chase. Well the thought of all of them captured was enough to get her in the fighting spirit, and they certainly needed that right now.
Kanan and Zeb were seated at the back and central guns; shooting down TIE'S just as a two more came in their place. Sabine and Chopper were trying to fix the third gun chair that had been disabled when shot early on in the chase. Ezra was helping Hera enter the right coordinates into hyperspace so she could focus on flying. Despite Ezra's effort to hide it Hera had seen the fear in the boy's eyes as the crew was being chased. It took a lot of will power on Hera's behalf not to go and comfort Ezra. The whole situation had gone out of hand so quickly. It seemed hard to believe in the moment that an hour ago they were only going on a reconnaissance mission.
The crew had tried to sneak into Capitol City for some intel of possible imperial knowledge about the rebellion. The crew had not even gotten into the city when Kanan and Ezra were spotted, by troopers. The hunt for the two male humans had been even more intense than the last time they were on world. They were chased out the city by a dozen imperial's on speeders and transporters lead by Kallus. Kallus looked even more exhausted and stressed than last time and when he saw Ezra there was pure hate in his eyes. By the time the crew reached the Ghost, the imperials were on their way. Now things seemed to be going from bad to much worse.
"How are things going up there?" Hera called to the rest on the comlink.
"Not much better," Kanan over the comm, clearly stressing about their situation, "We shoot one TIE fighter only for two to take its place."
"Hera, they are blocking us from entering space, the TIE's are trying to force us to the ground. We have to get out of Lothal's atmosphere, now!" Sabine shrieked.
"I know Sabine but we can't do that until we find an opening!" Hera stated the obvious.
"Hera, fly past the Star Destroyer!" Kanan ordered
"Are you sure? We could be shot to pieces" Hera questioned the leader's crazy idea.
"No, but we can't stay in this position for much longer. Besides it seems like they want to capture us rather than shoot us so we can take advantage of that. Just fly, Zeb and I got the the TIE and Destroyer blaster's!" Kanan stated.
"Kanan's right, we won't win if they pressure us to the ground and fight us head on" Sabine said.
Hera sighed in content before taking charge, "Okay, Kanan and Zeb clear a path while I get us to space and Ezra will punch in the coordinates to jump to hyperspace."
"We are trying to clear a path on your right" Zeb roared.
Kanan and Zeb started to shoot through the TIE fighters. The gap was becoming wider and wider, just a little more and then-,
"Now!" Kanan called down to Hera.
"Hang on to something!" Hera ordered as she stirred the Ghost to make an extremely sharp turn while exhilarating towards the Star Destroyer. Ezra just managed to grab onto a strap as the maneuver nearly turned the Ghost upside down, making the whole crew's heads spin in nausea. The TIE fighters were not prepared for the extremely sharp turn and continued forward before they started to correct course; some even crashing into each other in a fiery explosion, due to confusion. The Ghost started to fly away from the Star Destroyer while shooting the TIE'S below them.
"Three TIE fighters coming out hot!" Hera shouted as she saw the TIE'S emerged from her rear view mirror.
Ezra looked out and saw a special fighter followed by two more. Ezra's eyes became wide and fear hit him fast. The darkened sleek fighter belonged to the Grand Inquisitor. Ezra had seen it often enough when he had been trained, sometimes the Grand Inquisitor left for a few days and he was left with the other Inquisitors. Something Ezra to this day was not sure if it was a relief or a plague. Every time that happened they had dragged him along to greet the Grand Inquisitor upon his return or to be punished by him.
Kanan sensed Ezra's panic, "Ezra what's wrong?" Kanan asked over the comm.
"Kanan … it's him" Ezra stuttered as he shivered.
"Ezra easy it's okay" Kanan tried to calm the kid.
"Kanan I … I can sense him … he's angry" cried Ezra as he gasped for air, .
Suddenly both Kanan and Ezra cried out in pain, scaring the rest of the crew.
"Sabine … take … the gun" Kanan hollered.
Sabine ran through the Ghost and took over the position. Kanan fell to the ground crying out loud in discomfort. On unsteady feet from not only the mental attack but the moving ship, Kanan managed to stumble towards the cockpit. All the way to the cockpit Kanan felt it like he was in two places at the same time. The normal world and the plane of the force where the Inquisitor drilled into his mind made his head feel like it was exploding. Kanan managed to get into the cockpit but pain ran through his mind making it hard to focus. In there he found a freaked Hera that was split between flying the Ghost and try to help Ezra.
"Fly!" Kanan managed to tell Hera through his grinding teeth.
Kanan nearly collapsed to the floor when a new wave of mental attack came on. Ezra cried out in pain and squeezed his hands on his head. Kanan grabbed Ezra's hand and sat down as he started to focus on strengthening their mental defence.
"I'm here Ezra," Kanan assured the boy.
Kanan could feel how the Inquisitor attacked them both. Kanan dived into the force to push back the Inquisitor. Kanan felt it when Ezra joined him through the force. Together they struggled with the Inquisitor, but they were struggling together at least. Suddenly Kanan felt the cold coming from his side, which meant that Ezra was angry and scared and leaning into the dark side. It frightened him and was also surprised by the amount of power the child displayed.
"Ezra no don't. Remember what I taught you" Kanan called through their connection.
"You see now Jedi? The boy belong to me, he is pulled to the dark side" The Inquisitor suddenly spoke to both of them.
"No I don't want to be like you" Ezra replied back to the Pau'an.
"You heard the Jedi, he don't want you, come back to me and I will complete your training" the Inquisitor said.
"I never said I did not want you and you know that. I just want you to stop using the dark side because you are better than that; better than him." Kanan told Ezra.
"So you are training him now? Pathetic! A weakling of a padawan who could not even finish his own training, no the boy is better with me" the Inquisitor taunted.
Kanan felt the sting of the words, but now was not the time to get upset over them.
"Enough! Ezra chose me of his free will. I did not have to use force or threats. That was where you failed and why you will never have him" Kanan exclaimed and started push the Inquisitor away.
"I believe you mean you are too much of a coward to do what is necessary. Face it jedi you cannot deny me what is mine" the Inquisitor said before started fighting again.
Kanan could feel how angry the Inquisitor was and that gave him a great strength. Kanan though was just as determined not to let the Inquisitor win. Suddenly he felt how Ezra joined in and pushed the Inquisitor away from them, with Kanan. The power that Ezra did this with was alarmingly strong. Could the boy be stronger than him? It was not out of the question but still a bit surprising. Slowly the Inquisitor was pushed away from them with the collective power Kanan and Ezra, but it took its toll on them. Even as the Inquisitor presence started to fade they could both feel his anger projected at them. Neither of them doubted that they would pay deeply if they ever got caught again. Before they were completely out of the Inquisitor's reach his last words travelled to them both.
"The boy belong to me Jarrus. Do you hear me? I will take him back"
A last wave of pain was sent after them, now though the two jedi were free from the inquisitors attack, and were back to their situation.
"Chopper give me the coordinates to hyperspace" Hera called.
Kanan opened his eyes which he hadn't noticed he had closed and saw they were in space and that the TIE fighters wasn't near them and the Star Destroyer was below them trying to reach them. Chopper, who came in, pushed the right button to escape.
"Hello hyperspace" Hera called out in joy.
Kanan with Ezra in his arms looked as they jumped to hyperspace and felt it when Ezra breathed a sigh of relief as they got away from the Inquisitor. As soon as Hera was sure everything was going well she turned to them and Kanan knew that mother Hera wanted to check both of them and probably ordering them for a bigger medical treatment.
"Good you awake, can you stand? I want you to the medical wing on the double" Hera said full of worries.
"No Hera there won't be anything to check" Kanan said slowly and out of breath.
Ezra also started to move in his arms.
"Don't even try to say you are okay Kanan for clearly you are not. Crying out in pain while sitting there with Ezra who was doing the same is a sign that no you are not okay, now march" Hera growled at him.
Kanan knowing it would not help to argue took Ezra gently lifting and went to the medical wing and put them both on the bed. They had barely gotten in before Zeb, Sabine and Chopper rushed into the room.
"Are they okay?" Sabine asked.
"Yes we are okay and I repeat Hera there will be nothing to find on us. This was an attack aimed at us through the force it won't leave any physical mark that you can treat. That was why Ezra and I felt it but you did not" Kanan explained while he rubbed Ezra on his back for comfort.
Hera looked worried.
"You are not just saying this to avoid the medical exam?" Hera asked.
"Hera check us if it will relieve your mind but you won't find anything. It was a force attack from the inquisitor, so no physical scars" Kanan explained.
Hera checked them a bit but like Kanan said there was nothing physically wrong with them. Ezra looked worried at Kanan while Hera was checking him over.
"Kanan I don't want to belong to the Inquisitor" Ezra whispered to him.
"Ezra, you will never belong to him; you are a boy, not a possession. You are my padawan because you chose so. Never, will you be his, he can't own you unless you allow him to. Remember no matter where he lock us up, or chain us down, no one but we decide who owns us" Kanan whispered back.
"Well in that case I can only ask you how you are?" Hera asked interrupting them as she finished her analyzes.
"We are okay Hera" Ezra said and Kanan nodded despite a small worry over Ezra.
"Good then we are all safe now?" Sabine asked.
"Completely safe" Kanan said.
In that moment a wave of the force hit him and he sank worldless to the floor.
Kanan!" he heard Hera cry in horror. That was when blackness took over his sight, and an unpleasant vision came before his eyes.
The first thing he saw was that he were in a cell when he saw him. There he was, the Inquisitor, laughing like the maniac he was, his lightsaber in hand as he looked over at his intent target. In the corner Kanan saw them, a couple clinging to one another for dear life, the couple he recognized from the holo-image Ezra showed him, Ezra's parents. The two looked scared to death, that was when things went bright red, to again pure black.
When Kanan's vision returned, the images around him were more clear. This time Kanan saw was at a Star Destroyer.
High ranking officials ran for their lives as the furious Inquisitor entered the bridge still with his flight suit on. The Grand Inquisitor looked ready to murder anyone who got near him.
"We almost had them, what happened!?" roared the Inquisitor slashing his lightsaber through a control panel in anger.
No one answered him and a long silence followed.
"Sir?" Agent Kallus spoke, frightened by the pau'ans presence, but remained stiff where he stood.
"WHAT?" the Inquisitor snapped, while making the agent levitate.
"The prisoners you requested have arrived, the parents of the street rat" Kallus reported, trying to fight the invisible force holding him.
"Show me to them NOW" the Inquisitor said or rather screamed while releasing the agent so he felt to the floor where he hurried to rise.
Kallus and the Inquisitor left together, then everything turned black.
As his visions returned he was back in the cell with the pair that he had seen earlier was sitting trying to comfort each other.
"Ephraim why have they moved us here?" the woman whispered.
"I don't know Mira. They have moved us before but not taken us off world" Ephraim whispered.
"Do you think it has something to do with Ezra. Do you think we are going to see him?" Mira whispered both hopeful and fearful.
"I don't know, but we better be quiet before someone hear us" Ephraim said.
Then the Inquisitor and Kallus walked in.
"Nice to see you again Mira and Ephraim Bridger" the Inquisitor grinned.
"You two" the man growled "What now? We have been behaving since you came to see us, we haven't done anything because you threatened to harm our son, so why are we here? Is it so you can taunt us more?" Ephraim continued.
"What do you want with us?" Mira asked.
"Your cooperation to get back my apprentice" the Inquisitor said grinning.
"How could we do that?" Ephraim asked while holding Mira.
"Easy you can help me lure your son back to me" the Inquisitor said.
"THE HELL WE WILL!" roared Ephraim as he held his wife.
"We will never help you" Mira said.
The Inquisitor grinned and pointed his lightsaber at them "You already are, you see your son is still holding affections to you. Still called for you at night in his sleep when he was here and that will bring him back"
With that everything went black for Kanan while the Inquisitor's laughter and the parents cries ringing in his ears.
SWR
After Kanan was lifted up in the bed they all looked at him with worry. Hera saw the scrunched look on Kanan's face, like the man was having a nightmare. Or worse, Kanan was experiencing a vision.
The crew waited in the medbay for their leader to wake up. While they all looked worried, Ezra did not let his eyes wander away from the man.
Hera though began to worry even more, as she saw the stress Ezra was experiencing.
"Kanan will be fine; you know that, right Ezra?" Hera asked.
"I know it is probably a vision, the Inquisitor's told me about them .. but I never tried it myself or seen it; but after seeing Kanan react like that, I'm not sure if I want one." Ezra said still keeping his sight at Kanan full of worry.
Hera was not sure that was true. Kanan had told her that he suspected that Ezra had a vision of Vader; back when they got the two from the Empire, and Kanan was in the bacta tank. Hera wished Kanan could help her out here, she had little knowledge of such things. Hera reminded herself to talk to Kanan later.
Just then, in a split second, the room's mood changed from concern to panic.
Kanan gasped, like he was in pain, as he shot straight up in the bed. Kanan looked around in paranoia, like he had no idea where he was. Kanan began gasping for air, like he was drowning.
"Kanan" Hera called full of worries.
"Are you okay?" Ezra asked.
"What happened?" Zeb growled.
"Don't scare us like that" Sabine said.
Hera though saw that Kanan was not fully registering their words. The man looked like he was trying to figure out what was going on.
Hera gently placed a hand on her love's shoulder. Kanan shot his gaze at her, and it broke Hera's heart to see his eyes full of fear, and directed at her.
Hera spoke calm, "Kanan, are you okay? You passed out after we entered hyperspace. You scared us half to death."
Kanan the looked around the room slowly, truly seeing what was around him, he breathed out in relief.
"I'm on the Ghost," Kanna smiled as he sighed in relief, "You all are okay."
Ezra smiled as he crawled onto the bed, "Yeah were okay, but we want to know if you're okay." Ezra said all this quite seriously, but his voice was evident he was withholding some weak sob's of relief.
"I am okay Ezra I just had a vision. It happens for people who can use the force. It is not something to be worried about. It was just that and when I woke up I feared I was back at the base but since I am not then I am fine. Absolutely nothing to worry about" Kanan said and stroke Ezra gently.
Ezra smiled and hugged Kanan, it was evident that Ezra had no intention of letting go anytime soon. Kanan noticed that Ezra drifted off to sleep and he stroked Ezra as the child snuggled up and slept using him as a mattress. Well it looked like he wasn't going to be moving for a while.
"So Kanan what did you see?" Sabine asked after a little while.
Kanan looked at the sleeping Ezra before he replied.
"The Inquisitor, he was angry, very angry that we got away, he slashed a control panel with his lightsaber out of anger over not getting us. Not to mention that he looked like he was ready to murder anyone who would go near him. It seems like he is a mix of desperation and anger. Kallus looked like he rather wanted to flee than be there. What's even worse is that the Inquisitor called Ezra his his and swore to take him back" Kanan said.
"This is getting dangerous" Zeb pointed out.
Kanan nodded darkly, today's attack had shown how far the Inquisitor was willing to go.
Were they even safe anywhere?
"We will find a solution later right now I think Zeb should take Ezra back to bed and then we will all rest before we join the rest of fleet" Hera said as she played with Kanan's hair.
Kanan sent her a smile which made Hera smile back with a glint in her eye, grabbing his hand and leaned closer. Sabine and Zeb shrugged their head and took Ezra before they saw something they did not want to see. The small child grunted in his sleep at being moved away from the warmth and comfort Kanan provided; but did not wake as Zeb brought him out of the room. Kanan and Hera snuggled closer to each other and kissed.
"It is much easier now that we don't have to hide it from the kids any longer" Kanan grinned.
"Indeed love but I think we embarrass them a bit" Hera replied with a smile.
"They'll be fine" Kanan replied.
Hera smiled to him but then turned seriously.
"Was there anything else you saw in the vision?" Hera asked.
Kanan sighted.
"Quite a bit more Hera but I am not sure I should tell, I rather want you to kiss me again" Kanan said trying to distract her.
"Why not?" Hera asked, determined to stay on topic.
"It will cause a lot of pain provided the vision is correct, which is hard to say. Visions is hard to impertate as things is always is in motion and not all vision seen is coming to pass" Kanan said, knowing Hera would not let him slip, even so he stroke her chin to show his affection.
Hera was not sure she understood that but nodded.
"Even so you have to share it at least with me. I wish to know if something is threatening my crew" Hera pressed.
Kanan sighted but nodded.
A/N The first chapter and many more more to come in part 2. We are looking forward to continue the jurney with you.